Frequently asked questions - Solar system
The cost of a solar system varies depending on the size and type of system, installation conditions and location.
The costs depend on:
- Size of the system (in kWp)
- Type of solar modules (monocrystalline, polycrystalline, thin film)
- Installation costs
- Location and orientation of the house
- Type of roof mounting
- Costs for inverters and other system components
- Possible additional costs for storage solutions
The electricity production of a solar system depends on individual factors, such as the size of the system and the site conditions. A typical solar module produces about 250 to 400 kWh per kWp (kilowatt peak) per year. For example, a 5 kWp system produces on average 5,000 to 7,000 kWh per year.
The number of solar modules that fit on your roof depends on the available space and the size of the modules. A typical solar module is about 1.6 square meters in size. During the on-site inspection, however, our team will take more precise measurements and also look at the conditions, for example for possible shading.
The size of the storage system should be tailored to your average daily electricity consumption and the amount of solar power generated and not immediately used. We will be happy to help you find the right storage system for your consumption.
The payback period for a solar system varies from system to system and depends on the initial investment, ongoing operating costs, income from electricity production and subsidies. On average, it takes between 8 and 12 years for a solar system to pay for itself.
Use clean water and a soft brush or cloth. Avoid hard brushes or harsh cleaning agents to avoid damaging the surface of the modules. It is best to clean the modules
at cooler temperatures, preferably in the morning or evening. Do not clean the modules at high temperatures to avoid stress cracks caused by sudden temperature differences.
The warranty periods for solar systems vary depending on the manufacturer and the components used. When installing your individual solar system, we will inform you about all relevant warranty periods of the
installed components so that you are optimally protected in the event of damage.
After registering the solar system on our site, your network operator will contact you. If you have not yet installed an electric meter, the network operator will replace the old one.
electricity meter. You must then fill out and sign a form provided by the network operator regarding the feed-in. In this form, you provide information about your details as an applicant, your bank details and the period (e.g. half-yearly) in which the amount is to be paid out.
There are various government subsidies such as feed-in tariffs, investment grants and low-interest loans that can reduce the costs of solar systems. These vary from municipality to municipality. At the moment, the 19% VAT on the purchase of a solar system is waived nationwide. We would be happy to advise you on this.
Frequently asked questions - Balcony power plant
General
A balcony power plant is a smaller version of the popular photovoltaic system, but much cheaper and easier to use. It consists of one or more solar modules, an inverter and the cabling. Balcony power plants are used to cover the base load, ie from dishwashers, washing machines, tumble dryers, WiFi devices, etc. They can be attached to balconies, carports, roofs and facades. Balcony power plants with a maximum output of 600 watts only need to be registered with the network operator and market master data register. All balcony power plants over 600 watts must be approved by an electrician.
The energy from the sun's rays is converted into direct current in the cells of the solar modules. The inverter converts this direct current into alternating current. This means that the energy can be drawn and used directly from the socket.
Yes, as long as they do not exceed the maximum output of 600 watts, they only need to be registered with your network operator and in the market master data register and can be operated legally. However, balcony power plants with an output of more than 600 watts must be approved by an electrician.
There is a limit of 600 watts per apartment or fuse box for balcony power stations. Balcony power stations with more than 600 watts must be checked by an electrician and adjusted if necessary, which may incur additional costs. If so much electricity is generated that it is sold for a fee, there is also an obligation to report it to the tax office.
If the 600 watts are not exceeded, registration in the market data register and registration with your network operator is sufficient.
Commissioning is easy - even without prior knowledge or specialists. Only a power socket is required for installation. Furthermore, the system pays for itself within a few years and reduces the electricity costs incurred.
Furthermore, it can also be used without a balcony or garden, for example on the facade. By using renewable energy, you reduce your emissions and help protect the environment. It is also easy to dismantle when moving, for example.
There is a limit of 600 watts per apartment or fuse box for balcony power stations. Balcony power stations with more than 600 watts must be checked by an electrician and adjusted if necessary, which may incur additional costs. If so much electricity is generated that it is sold for a fee, there is also an obligation to report it to the tax office.
If the 600 watts are not exceeded, registration in the market data register and registration with your network operator is sufficient.
That depends entirely on how many electricity meters there are in the house. With only one electricity meter, it would not be possible to distinguish the PV system from the mini-PV system, so they cannot be used in parallel. The electricity could mix with that of the grid operator and thus falsify the meter readings.
If you have a separate feed-in meter, the feed-in tariff could be charged, while the plug-in solar system could be measured via the household meter. In this case, it would again be possible to use both systems at the same time.
Yes, you generate electricity even in winter.
Balcony power plants only work if they are connected to a functioning power grid. If there is a power failure, your balcony power plant would also fail.
The most common and most important factors that affect the performance of your system are the weather conditions and the location of the system. As soon as the device is in the shade, this of course reduces the performance considerably. Therefore, you should make sure that the location is sunny and south-facing, the modules should be aligned at a 30° to 40° angle and they should be clean.
Registration, admission, use
1. Registration with the network operator:
According to the VDE standard, you must notify your network operator before commissioning. Registration is free of charge. The network operator will then normally check your electricity meter to see whether it already has a backflow preventer integrated. If this is not the case, your network operator will replace your electricity meter. In most cases, this is also free of charge.
2. Registration in the Market Data Register:
Registration with the Federal Network Agency in the market master data register takes place online. You can use the online assistant for this. As soon as a user account with access has been created, you only have to register as a plant operator and register the balcony power plant. You can find the link to the market master data register here .
If the system is discovered before registration, the grid operator can demand that it be registered. If you do not comply with this request, you are no longer allowed to operate the mini PV system. However, if you agree to the registration and submit a declaration of conformity, you cannot be prosecuted.
No, this is only permitted in the case of an incorrect power reading or a massive disruption rate caused by the system. However, since our balcony power plants are all subject to the DGS standard, these two reasons can be ruled out.
Neither the landlord nor the network operator have the right to prohibit the use of a balcony power plant as long as no damage occurs as a result of its use.
Normally, screw connections on walls in rented apartments are normal wear and tear and are therefore permitted in the rental agreement. Other damage is not foreseen by the systems and is covered by the guarantee.
First, the brackets must be attached to the desired location where the panels are to be attached. Then the modules and the inverter must be mounted on them. Then you connect the cables from the solar modules to the inverter and the inverter to the house's electricity supply. Ideally, the power is fed in via fixed cabling or a so-called Wieland socket, but it is also possible to use a normal Schuko plug in a socket.
No, unlike conventional photovoltaic systems, our mini solar systems are designed for personal use and are therefore exempt from taxes. This only applies to private use. Of course, different regulations apply for commercial use.
For new PV systems (up to and including 25 kWp) that were put into operation after September 14, 2022, the 70% rule has been abolished (EEG amendment 2023). Furthermore, the limit will also be abolished for existing systems up to and including 7 kWp from January 1, 2023.
As of January 1, 2023, the 19% sales tax on the delivery and installation of balcony power plants, including all components essential for the operation of a photovoltaic system, will no longer apply. We at SolX pass these 19% savings directly on to our customers!
In addition, some regional funding exists.
Here is a short list of municipalities that offer their residents funding (as of 09/2022; the information is provided without guarantee):
- Freiburg im Breisgau: 200€
- Stuttgart: 100€
- Erlangen: up to 300€ (depending on installed capacity)
- Cologne: 200€
A 600-watt system with optimal alignment can easily cover the electricity costs of your base load, i.e. dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer, WiFi device, etc.
There are various ways to measure the energy you generate. Some inverters already have an integrated measuring function. In most cases, you have to download the manufacturer's app and then connect it to the inverter.
However, there are also power meters that measure the performance of your system. We offer different models, which you can find under accessories in our shop.
If your balcony power plant produces more energy than is consumed, this excess electricity is fed into the public power grid.
This is theoretically possible. First of all, a few entries in various registers are necessary and the tax office would regularly check the income. In addition, the legal situation in this regard is very vague and not yet reliable.
In addition, balcony power plants are designed to minimize the base load of daily electricity demand.
Purchasing a battery storage system would extend the payback period of the entire system and thus make it unprofitable.
There is a limit of 600 watts per apartment or fuse box for balcony power stations. Balcony power stations with more than 600 watts must be checked by an electrician and adjusted if necessary, which may incur additional costs. If so much electricity is generated that it is sold for a fee, there is also an obligation to report it to the tax office.
If the 600 watts are not exceeded, registration in the market data register and registration with your network operator is sufficient.
Wp stands for Watt Peak and describes the maximum power achieved by the solar modules under optimal conditions. When used at home, the power is usually slightly lower.
There is a limit of 600 watts per apartment or fuse box for balcony power stations. These can be installed by the user. Balcony power stations with more than 600 watts can also be installed by the user, but must be checked by an electrician and adjusted if necessary, which may incur additional costs. If so much electricity is generated that it is sold for a fee, there is also an obligation to report it to the tax office.
If the 600 watts are not exceeded, registration in the market data register and registration with your network operator is sufficient.
It is advisable to always inform the landlord about planned changes to the apartment, but the landlord can only refuse our installation in exceptional cases, for example if the building is listed as a historical monument.
Since the brackets have to be drilled into the wall, this should also be discussed with the owner of the building, but provisions regarding this are usually specified in the rental agreement.
The majority of the community of owners must agree to the use of a balcony power plant; this has been the case since the WEG reform in December 2020.
The topic can be addressed well at an owners' meeting, and there are also some ready-made forms regarding alternative power supplies that can be downloaded freely from the Internet. These are very helpful in such situations.
Technical
No, because electricity meters in Germany usually count the different circuits independently of each other. If the electricity is fed into one phase, it can be used indirectly from any phase. For example, if 600 watts are fed into one phase and 300 watts are consumed on two other phases, the mathematical result is 0 consumption.
This is easy to identify using a household appliance. Plug it into the socket that you want to use to operate your solar system. Now switch off the fuses until the device no longer works. To be on the safe side, you should switch this fuse back on and try all the others to make sure you have not accidentally switched off the main fuse. If your household appliance only switches off with one fuse, you have identified the right one. If there are two fuses, you only need to determine which one is the main fuse. This is very easy to find out because the main fuse switches off the power in the entire house.
Under normal circumstances, any electricity meter should be suitable, but if you are still using a mechanical meter, it is recommended that you switch to an electric meter. This is done free of charge by the network operator and takes less than 10 minutes. This will prevent the meter from reversing if you are producing more electricity than you are using.
In the case of mechanical meters with a rotating disc, it is very unlikely that a lock is already in place, but current electric meters should already have one built in. In order to avoid breaking the law, it is necessary to have a backflow lock retrofitted if 4% of the annual electricity consumption of the grid feed-in is exceeded at a power plant with an output of less than 800 watts. Otherwise, it is a criminal offence if electricity is actually fed into the public grid and the meter runs backwards as a result. However, it is very unlikely that such a case will result in criminal prosecution.
As a rule, the entire meter is replaced with a more recent one. To do this, you must submit an application to your meter operator - which is usually your network operator. This can also be done by phone or email. If the conversion is refused for any reason, it would make sense to change the meter operator.
Payment, shipping, forwarding
You can find information about our payment options here .
If you have made a mistake, please contact us immediately using the contact details provided on the website. We will be happy to help you.
Please note that changes can only be made at short notice. Once the delivery date has passed, no further changes can be made as the supplier has already assumed responsibility for the product.
Delivery is only possible within Germany.
You can find information about shipping here .
Yes, we ship with tracking. After placing your order, you should check your email inbox, where you will be sent a link that will allow you to access details about your shipment. You may also receive a separate email directly from the shipping provider or DHL.
Parcel deliveries take one to three working days, while shipping by freight forwarder takes three to five working days. Collection is possible from Tuesday to Friday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and by arrangement also on Mondays and Saturdays.
You do not have to be at home for a DHL delivery, but it is very important for a freight forwarding delivery.
Normally, however, you should receive a notification from the shipping company in good time telling you when the delivery is expected to arrive. This way, you can take the day off early enough to be able to accept the delivery in person.
Yes, you can pick them up from us Tuesday to Friday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and by appointment on Mondays and Saturdays. But it's best to call us beforehand or send us an email so we can make an appointment.
By providing your telephone number, the shipping company can arrange a suitable appointment with you directly. This means you can receive your order more quickly.
Warranty and life expectancy
Yes, you can contact us within 30 days of purchase and cancel the purchase contract, but we will definitely find a satisfactory solution beforehand.
The system's modules usually have a product guarantee of between 5 and 15 years, which means that any damage to the product can be repaired or replaced within this time. The performance guarantee is usually 25 years, which means that a certain minimum performance must be maintained within this time, otherwise the device can be replaced. The inverters usually also have a product guarantee of 12 years.
With normal use, the modules can be used for at least 20 years, and the inverters have the same lifespan. This is also why we have such a long guarantee. There are even modules that have been in operation for over 35 years without any failures.
Since every balcony power plant comes with a guarantee, the manufacturer is liable in cases where a defective device causes damage. However, if it can be ruled out that the damage was caused by the device, but instead by faulty installation, this may mean that insurance cover is no longer applicable.
Security
Yes. So far, there have been no known cases of damage caused by use of our products or of the other 200,000 appliances across Europe that can be operated from a power outlet. When you also consider the low electrical output, a washing machine is a far more dangerous electrical appliance.
In a normal German household, nothing special is normally necessary in terms of preparation, as a voltage of 230 volts at 50 Hz is guaranteed and the other technical requirements should be met.
Yes, this is possible.
No additional insurance is necessary, but it is always a good idea to check if solar panels for the balcony are included in your existing liability insurance. Despite the fact that insurance is not necessary, it is still advisable to cover any damage.
Yes, a lot of things. A multiple socket in combination with an inverter poses a very high risk. It also opens up further security gaps in the power grid and the socket.
Yes, it is actually very easy. There is a connector on the inverter to which another inverter can easily be connected.
No. The inverter requires a fixed, permanent power supply and the system does not contain any storage device.
Yes, the system itself is completely weatherproof, the inverter is marked IP67 and is therefore also dust and splash-proof, but it should still be mounted underneath the module for protection so that it is not exposed to all weather conditions.
No, but it is a good idea to wipe the modules with a damp cloth from time to time to ensure the highest possible performance depending on the weather conditions.
A Wieland socket can be thought of as a safer version of a normal Schuko socket. The corresponding counterpart - the plug - has additional protection of the contacts so that they cannot be touched directly.
No, only qualified electricians are allowed to replace the socket.
Since all of our inverters comply with the VDE 4105 standard for NA protection, there is no reason to replace a Schuko socket with a Wieland connection, as there is no difference between the two as long as this protection is guaranteed. In addition, the network operator's responsibility ends at the electricity meter, and only an electrician can decide on the sockets.