4 ms·

We legalized these in Belgium last year. I bought a 1600Wc + 1.9KWh kit (Ecoflow Stream) for +/- 1300€ last summer. It took us about 2h to install (we had to s

We legalized these in Belgium last year. I bought a 1600Wc + 1.9KWh kit (Ecoflow Stream) for +/- 1300€ last summer. It took us about 2h to install (we had to setup a new plug outside), and I already saved 200€+ since July. I am expecting to save about 350€ per year. Also, as u/jstch said, it's extremely fun to setup and generate your own power!

gib444 6mo ago
A 3.7 year ROI would be incredible (and fairly uncommon AIUI) South facing?
- raphaelj 6mo ago
  House is facing South, but I'm laying them flat on the floor for economic and aesthetic reasons, with some 3D printed brick-based ballast [1]. Buying supports for PV is actually less economical than buying additional PV panels. -- [1] https://imgur.com/a/tDPevmM https://imgur.com/a/tDPevmM
- muskstinks 6mo ago
  Mine was around 4 years and its west south + a tree in the middle. So spring and autom the tree is no problem but in summer lunch hpeak there is shadow on it.
  - gib444 6mo ago
    Nice! What location, equipment and total investment?
    - muskstinks 6mo ago
      Its my south/west balcony with a 1 square meter panel from some online shop. 400 watts, with an easy to install rail system for my balcony and a plug and inverter for ~400 Euros.
Fokamul 6mo ago
And how does it work there? You have special electric meter and you are distributing solar power into the grid outside of your household? Or you don't distribute electricity into the grid?
- raphaelj 6mo ago
  You have to register to the utility, but that's just a form to fill with the model and power of the kit. With a e-meter, you will get compensated when you're generating a surplus (+/- €0.04/kWh last time I checked). However, thanks to the battery, I'm self-consuming almost all that electricity, saving around €0.30/kWh. Expect 800kWh of annual production per 1kW of panels.
- pjc50 6mo ago
  The special definition of "balcony solar" is that it avoids most of those requirements. It seems this is usually done by adding a clamp meter to the input to the house, which sends a control signal to the panel inverter over Wifi to reduce output if it would be feeding back. (this is country dependent)
- ragebol 6mo ago
  My guess as a Dutch guy, not 100% familiar with our neighboring country's rules etc): Yes, exporting to the grids. If a house has an old Ferraris meter, it will rotate backwards or a new, smart(er) meter, that has a separate counter for delivery back to the grid.
modo_mario 6mo ago
Did you need to get it certified? I think the limit for DIY balcony panels here in Belgium was about 800W.
- raphaelj 6mo ago
  It is 800W, but the battery allows it to buffer the excess and never output more than the legal limit.

gib444 6mo ago

A 3.7 year ROI would be incredible (and fairly uncommon AIUI) South facing?

raphaelj 6mo ago
House is facing South, but I'm laying them flat on the floor for economic and aesthetic reasons, with some 3D printed brick-based ballast [1]. Buying supports for PV is actually less economical than buying additional PV panels. -- [1] https://imgur.com/a/tDPevmM https://imgur.com/a/tDPevmM
muskstinks 6mo ago
Mine was around 4 years and its west south + a tree in the middle. So spring and autom the tree is no problem but in summer lunch hpeak there is shadow on it.
- gib444 6mo ago
  Nice! What location, equipment and total investment?
  - muskstinks 6mo ago
    Its my south/west balcony with a 1 square meter panel from some online shop. 400 watts, with an easy to install rail system for my balcony and a plug and inverter for ~400 Euros.

Fokamul 6mo ago

And how does it work there? You have special electric meter and you are distributing solar power into the grid outside of your household? Or you don't distribute electricity into the grid?

raphaelj 6mo ago
You have to register to the utility, but that's just a form to fill with the model and power of the kit. With a e-meter, you will get compensated when you're generating a surplus (+/- €0.04/kWh last time I checked). However, thanks to the battery, I'm self-consuming almost all that electricity, saving around €0.30/kWh. Expect 800kWh of annual production per 1kW of panels.
pjc50 6mo ago
The special definition of "balcony solar" is that it avoids most of those requirements. It seems this is usually done by adding a clamp meter to the input to the house, which sends a control signal to the panel inverter over Wifi to reduce output if it would be feeding back. (this is country dependent)
ragebol 6mo ago
My guess as a Dutch guy, not 100% familiar with our neighboring country's rules etc): Yes, exporting to the grids. If a house has an old Ferraris meter, it will rotate backwards or a new, smart(er) meter, that has a separate counter for delivery back to the grid.

modo_mario 6mo ago

Did you need to get it certified? I think the limit for DIY balcony panels here in Belgium was about 800W.

raphaelj 6mo ago
It is 800W, but the battery allows it to buffer the excess and never output more than the legal limit.