Just a few years ago, having your own photovoltaic system was primarily associated with a detached house and a large rooftop installation. Today, the situation is completely different.
Thanks to small PV kits, you can also produce your own energy in an apartment. All you need is a balcony, terrace, or a sufficiently sunny loggia to install small photovoltaic panels and start generating electricity.
This solution is referred to as balcony photovoltaics.
Can it really lower electricity bills? How do microinverters work? How much energy can balcony panels produce? And most importantly – does such a solution make economic sense?
Let's find out.
1. What is balcony photovoltaics?
Balcony photovoltaics is a small PV installation designed primarily for people who cannot install a traditional photovoltaic system on their roof.
The system usually consists of:
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one or two photovoltaic panels,
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a microinverter,
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a mounting structure,
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electrical wiring,
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optionally, an energy production monitoring system,
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optionally, an energy storage unit.
Unlike a traditional rooftop installation, we don't need a large area. Photovoltaic panels can be mounted on a balcony railing, wall, terrace, or a special structure.
The entire setup can have a small capacity, making the solution particularly attractive for residents of apartment buildings.
2. How does a balcony PV installation work?
The operating principle is exactly the same as for a large photovoltaic installation.
A photovoltaic panel uses solar radiation to produce direct current (DC).
Then, the energy goes to a microinverter, which converts the direct current into alternating current (AC) used by devices in the apartment.
In practice, it looks like this:
Sun → photovoltaic panels → microinverter → apartment electrical installation → electrical appliances
If a refrigerator, computer, television, router, or other devices are operating at a given moment, the energy from the installation can be used to power them.
This direct use of generated energy is the main advantage of a small PV installation.
3. Why are microinverters used in balcony installations?
Traditional photovoltaic installations usually use one larger inverter that serves the entire set of panels.
For small balcony installations, microinverters are much more practical.
A microinverter operates directly with the panels, converting the DC current they produce into AC current.
One of the significant advantages of this solution is the ability to independently manage the operation of individual modules. This is particularly important on a balcony, where some panels may be periodically shaded by an adjacent building, an upper balcony, trees, or structural elements.
Depending on the microinverter model, energy production can also be monitored via an app.
For example, popular devices designed for small balcony systems offer several independent MPPT inputs and Wi-Fi or Bluetooth communication.
4. How many photovoltaic panels can be installed on a balcony?
The most common balcony kits use one or two photovoltaic panels, but the possibilities primarily depend on the balcony area and the mounting structure.
A typical panel can have about 400–500 Wp, so two modules can form a small installation with a power of about 800–1000 Wp.
However, more panels do not always mean greater profitability.
On a balcony, the following are very important:
balcony orientation, shading, panel tilt angle, and the possibility of securely attaching the structure.
A panel installed vertically on a railing will perform differently than a panel tilted towards the sun.
It is also worth remembering that a south-facing, southeast-facing, or southwest-facing balcony will generally be a more favorable location for PV than a completely shaded balcony.
5. Do balcony panels produce a lot of energy?
Here, realistic expectations must be maintained.
Balcony photovoltaics will not replace a large rooftop installation of several or more kilowatts.
Its primary purpose is to cover part of the apartment's current energy demand.
For example, energy produced during the day can power:
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refrigerator,
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Wi-Fi router,
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computers,
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television,
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lighting,
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chargers,
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kitchen appliances,
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air conditioner or other receivers.
However, actual production depends on many factors. Important factors include location, balcony orientation, tilt angle, shading, temperature, and the parameters of the modules used.
Therefore, when choosing a kit, it is not worth being guided solely by the declared panel power.
6. The most important issue: self-consumption
In the case of a small balcony installation, self-consumption, i.e., the direct use of energy in the apartment, is particularly important.
Imagine that on a sunny day, the installation produces energy, but the apartment consumes very little electricity at that time.
If we do not have an adequate energy storage solution, the surplus may remain unused or – depending on the connection and billing method – be fed into the grid.
Therefore, a balcony PV installation works best where there is some constant energy consumption throughout the day.
A refrigerator, router, devices in standby mode, or a computer can create a constant demand that allows part of the energy produced by photovoltaic panels to be used.
This is very important because the more of our own energy we use directly, the greater the benefit we can gain from the installation.
7. Can energy storage be added?
Yes.
Balcony photovoltaics can also be expanded with a small energy storage unit, if the system used is adapted for it.
Then the scheme looks even more interesting:
panels → microinverter → apartment + energy storage
During the day, the storage unit can store some of the energy that was not used for current needs.
In the evening, the stored energy can be used to power devices.
This solution allows for increased self-consumption and even better utilization of energy produced by photovoltaics.
However, it is worth remembering that storage increases the cost of the entire system. Therefore, in the case of a small balcony installation, it should be selected based on the actual energy consumption profile, and not just the maximum possible capacity.
8. Is balcony photovoltaics legal in Poland?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions.
The answer is: yes, but this does not mean that every kit can simply be installed and connected without checking the requirements.
In the case of grid-connected installations, factors such as installation parameters, technical requirements, and the procedures of the relevant Distribution System Operator are important. The Energy Regulatory Office (URE) indicates that connecting micro-installations to the grid takes place based on a specific procedure, and the application includes, among other things, technical data of the installation and information regarding its location.
The issue of the building itself is also very important.
In the case of an apartment in a block, the balcony, facade, or railing may be elements subject to the rules of common property management. Therefore, before installation, it is worth checking the requirements of the housing community, cooperative, or building manager.
A balcony installation should not be treated as a solution entirely free of formalities.
Before purchasing a specific kit, it is worth checking the current requirements of your DSO and the rules applicable to the particular building.
9. What to look for when choosing a balcony kit?
The cheapest kit is not always the best choice.
Before purchasing, it is worth checking primarily:
1. Photovoltaic panels
Pay attention to power, efficiency, warranty, and quality of workmanship.
2. Microinverter
It should be matched to the power of the modules and have the required certificates and safeguards for grid operation.
3. Mounting structure
This is one of the most important elements of the entire system. The panels must be mounted stably and securely.
4. Monitoring
It is worth choosing a system that allows you to check energy production in an application.
5. Expandability
If you plan to add energy storage in the future, it is worth checking from the beginning whether the selected system will be compatible with it.
Safety should take precedence over maximizing the number of panels. The design must take into account wind load, mounting method, and the specifics of the particular balcony.
10. Is balcony photovoltaics profitable?
For many apartment residents, it can be a very interesting alternative to a traditional rooftop installation.
If you don't have your own house, don't have access to a roof, or live in a rented apartment, a small balcony installation can be one of the simplest ways to start using solar energy.
The biggest advantages are:
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small area needed for installation,
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ability to produce your own energy,
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simpler design than a large rooftop installation,
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ability to use microinverters,
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ability to monitor production,
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optional cooperation with energy storage,
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reducing some energy purchases from the grid.
However, it is necessary to remember the limitations:
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small panel surface,
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greater importance of shading,
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limited production in winter,
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need for safe installation,
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technical and formal requirements,
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need to check the rules applicable in the specific building.
Balcony photovoltaics – small installation, big change
Photovoltaics does not have to mean a large power plant on the roof.
Thanks to modern panels and solutions using microinverters, you can also produce your own energy in an apartment.
A well-designed balcony system can power some electrical appliances and reduce the amount of energy purchased from the grid. In combination with energy storage, it can become an even more functional element of a home energy system.
So if you live in an apartment building and are wondering if you can use solar energy without your own roof, the answer is:
Yes – balcony photovoltaics can be a real way to produce your own energy.
However, the key is the appropriate selection of photovoltaic panels, microinverter, structure, and the entire system to the conditions of a specific balcony.
myPVOutlet.eu – solar energy also for apartments
At myPVOutlet.eu, you will find solutions for building modern photovoltaic systems – from panels and microinverters to energy storage.
Don't have a roof? That doesn't mean you can't produce your own electricity from the sun.