Growatt Balcony PV System Solution

In recent years, the rising cost of fossil energy has put a significant burden on households around the globe. The simultaneous increase in electricity costs has worsened this situation, making it difficult for families to handle their energy bills. Amid this energy crisis, a great number of families are opting to install photovoltaic (PV) systems on their roofs as a cost-effective solution. 

Local governments have also instituted subsidies and incentives, encouraging the adoption of PV systems to help reduce the total public energy usage:

- Brandenburg provides up to 3000 Euro which is called a “small storage program” for investment in a storage PV system.

- Berlin support for private system 300 Euro/kWh, and max. 1500 Euro for a system.

What is a balcony PV system?

For homeowners without a roof or enough space to install a traditional PV system, the cost of electricity remains a significant concern. A smart solution is now permitted - the balcony PV system. Since the end of 2018, the photovoltaic system for balconies has been explicitly permitted according to the installation standard VDE 0100-551-1. This means that even tenants who do not have their own roofs can easily access eco-friendly solar power from their balcony or terrace. 

Balcony PV is a compact photovoltaic power generation system designed to be installed on a balcony or terrace. It is constructed with an inverter, typically a micro-inverter, that converts direct current (DC) to alternative current (AC). It also includes one to four PV modules and an AC cable connecting the micro-inverter to the house grid. The AC cable is either a Schuko-plug cable or a Wieland-Stecker cable (Note: Wieland-Stecker needs an electrician for installation). 

It is being embraced as an eco-friendly option for apartment households, and is also being supported by various local governments:

- In Berlin, the purchase of a balcony PV system has been eligible for a subsidy of 500€ per project since February 2023.

- In Schleswig-Holstein, starting from January 2023, balcony PV systems with a power output below 600W have been subsidized with up to 200€.

- In Saxony, residents can benefit from a subsidy of 300€ for the purchase and installation of “grid-connected, plug-in small photovoltaic systems with inverters" since mid-June 2023.

Germany has also lifted some restrictions, allowing residents to put balcony power stations into operation more easily and quickly.

- Balcony PV system is allowed with a max. 800W inverter.  

- Up to 2000W PV panel is allowed for balcony PV system. 

- A smart meter is optional and homeowners can continue to use the meter already installed by the grid operator. 

- The registration of grid operator is not compulsory, and the registration of Bundesnetzagentur only requires a few data, making the process much simpler. 

- Necessary data includes commissioning date, module output, inverter output, system location, and electricity meter number. 

- The "plug-question" and technical details of the systems are regulated by technical standards rather than legal regulations, which means that the Schuko-plug is suitable for current installation.

https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/themen/tipps-fuer-verbraucher/solarpaket-photovoltaik-balkonkraftwerke-2213726

Growatt solution for balcony PV system: NEO Series Micro-inverter

To provide a feasible and dependable balcony PV system solution, Growatt, an intelligent energy solution provider, launched its NEO 600-1000WM-X series in 2023.

What is special about NEO 600-1000M-X series?

1. Easy installation: Compact design with built-in Wi-Fi unit
The unified one-body design with integrated Wi-Fi module simplifies the installation substantially. With a weight of only 3kg, customers can complete the whole process in just 5 minutes.

2. Flexible and high performance

The NEO series is designed with 2 MPPTs and has a high current capability of up to 18A, making it compatible with high-power PV panels. Customers have the freedom to customize their PV system to fit their balcony space and choose the PV panels that best meet their needs.

The 2 MPPTs provide the possibility for the 2 PV panels to operate autonomously and be monitored separately. This avoids the negative effect that may occur between panels due to shadowing or defects. The panel-level monitoring also allows for easy identification of any defective PV panels by providing the current working status.

The IP67 design guarantees exceptional water and dust resistance, enabling flexible installation in various environments, like on a balcony.

3. Reliable and safety
The NEO series features a galvanically isolated topology. This ensures the internal connections between the AC and DC sides are safely separated, minimizing the risk of electrical shock during installation.

The NEO series, with integrated NA-protection, meets all the requirements of the Germany VDE AR-N 4105 standard. The inverter is designed to prioritize safety by automatically disconnecting from the grid in the event of any instability, ensuring the well-being of both the occupants and the household devices.

4. Smart monitoring and maintaining
Growatt ShinePhone is a free app that allows customers to easily access the production status of their own PV station right from their mobile device.
- Customers can conveniently monitor daily production.
- Each PV panel operation information is visible. 

Growatt offers a convenient approach for connecting the NEO series to an AC socket. A 5-meter-long Schuko-plug cable which can be adapted to most balcony sizes.

Growatt solution for balcony PV system: NOAH 2000 Balcony Storage Battery

Families with low baseline electricity consumption during the day, or those with ample space for additional PV panels, often produce excess PV energy from their balcony PV systems. However, since most balcony PV systems are not registered with the grid operator, this excess energy is exported to the grid without any benefit. 

The Growatt NOAH 2000 is a balcony storage battery that is perfect for this situation. We have introduced this battery that seamlessly integrates with the NEO micro-inverter, allowing system owners to expand their PV system into a convenient balcony storage system. They can store excess energy and use it during the night to optimize the system's own consumption.

1. Easy installation
The Growatt NOAH 2000 features a user-friendly plug-and-play design, ensuring a hassle-free installation process. The connection cable between the NOAH 2000 and NEO inverter is included in the product package. Get connected with just a single click.

2. Wide PV power input range
The NOAH 2000 battery supports up to 1800W of PV input, allowing up to four PV panels to be connected to it.

3. Extendable up to 8kWh
The NOAH battery is expandable up to 8 kWh, allowing a maximum of 4 batteries to be connected.

4. Working in a harsh environment
The operating environment for the NOAH battery is -20℃ to 50℃. The Growatt NOAH 2000 has a built-in heater to ensure the battery maintains a normal operating temperature.

5. Compatibility with third-party micro-inverter
Growatt NOAH 2000 can also work with the most popular micro-inverters on the market. This gives customers who already have a PV-balcony-system the opportunity to add storage.

For more inverter models that can be matched with NOAH2000 in the future, please refer to the official website of Growatt: https://en.growatt.com/products/noah-2000-battery

6. Easy monitoring in one App
Once the NOAH 2000 system is installed, the battery takes on the crucial role of being the central control hub for the entire energy system. NOAH effectively handles energy flow, allowing users to easily keep track of their system through the Growatt ShinePhone App.

Users can also set the working mode based on their household consumption preferences. 

 Load first mode PV will first meet the power setting and the remaining PV power will be used to charge the battery. If PV power is insufficient, the battery is discharged to meet the output. 

Solar power is greater than system output:

Solar power is lower than system output.:

 Battery first 
PV will charge the battery first, and if the PV power is greater than the charging power, the excess energy can support the house consumption.

So, what do you think about having a balcony system for yourself?

Now that the energy engineer has made the system easily accessible to everyone. Are you interested in having your own system to harness green energy for your home and reduce energy costs at the same time? Are you wondering if it's worth installing a PV system for your own home? 

You can evaluate according to your own situation: 

1. What is your baseline consumption? Refrigerators, Wi-Fi routers, TVs on standby, or other electronic devices that are left on should be counted as part of your household electricity needs. 

2. What is the maximum system size that will fit on the balcony? 

3. What is the potential cost savings of this system? For example: The market price for a PV system with an 800W micro-inverter and 2 PV panels is around 300€.

Based on the current electricity price in Germany, it is estimated that the basic balcony system will provide a return on investment in approximately 2 years. It's important to note the warranty of the system, with the PV panel lasting for over 20 years, the micro-inverter for 12 years, and the battery for 10 years. This would be an incredibly valuable investment.

Would you like to know more about Growatt Balcony solution? 

Please refer to Growatt's social website for more details: https://en.growatt.com/