Balkonkraftwerke

[saveasteading]

This is from the Washington Post. Does it happen here as well as in Germany? Typically 800W.

 

In Germany, balcony solar is hugely popular: as many as 4 million systems hang on railings there, equivalent to the capacity of several large power plants. (Yes, there is a one-word German name for it: Balkonkraftwerke.

[Kelvin]

You can get systems like this that plug into a Euro socket. 
 

https://www.sigenergy.com/en/products/sigenmicro-inverter

[Redbeard]

I think I have got their first album.

 

And on a more serious note, I saw some thin-film amorphous silicone panels hanging outside a flat recently. Possibly some Qs re safety (and of course I do not know whether that was a low-voltage or an inverted 'system', but the extremely low prices of PV now make it tempting. I wonder how long it will be before Planning implications are brought up? Will all such uses, for example, be PD? (A quick think says probably yes, but there are exemptions for some 'sensitive' areas.

[Mike]

3 hours ago, saveasteading said:

Does it happen here as well as in Germany?

Not legally, but that may change (though not in a rush); there was a report just a few of weeks ago:

 

     Currently, UK regulations do not allow plug-in solar to be used in the UK, but the government is working to explore its potential.

      Action 2: Government will conduct a safety study this year with the aim of unlocking opportunities for plug-in solar over the next few years.

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/solar-roadmap/solar-roadmap-united-kingdom-powered-by-solar-accessible-webpage

 

 

 

 

[saveasteading]

3 hours ago, Kelvin said:

You can get systems like this

 

35 minutes ago, Mike said:

Not legally

Does that summarise it?

But Germany presumably think its OK.

 

The WP had readers' comments including that the US power companies are very anti.

[Mike]

59 minutes ago, saveasteading said:

But Germany presumably think its OK.

Looks like they changed the law in 2019 to allow it (subject to rules & registration): https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/solar/how-germany-outfitted-half-a-million-balconies-with-solar-panels

 

 

Edited Wednesday at 11:30 by Mike

[JohnMo]

1 hour ago, Mike said:

Not legally,

You can legally already install balcony solar. But it cannot be plugged straight into a socket, as it is in most parts of the world, it needs to go a consumer unit.

[Mike]

10 minutes ago, JohnMo said:

You can legally already install balcony solar. But it cannot be plugged straight into a socket, as it is in most parts of the world, it needs to go a consumer unit.

Yes, if they're wired in, then no problems on a balcony or anywhere else, in most cases.

 

However the article posted by @saveasteading (and the use of Balkonkraftwerke, AFAIK) refers to balcony plug-in solar.

 

 

 

Edited Wednesday at 11:51 by Mike

[SteamyTea]

There used to be a small wind turbine for sale that plugged in.

So may have been legal once, or the company may have just not bothered with any certification.

The DNO will probably still have to be notified for safety reasons.

9 hours ago, Redbeard said:

think I have got their first album

 

 

Still sounds good.

 

[Onoff]

1 hour ago, SteamyTea said:

There used to be a small wind turbine for sale that plugged in.

So may have been legal once, or the company may have just not bothered with any certification.

The DNO will probably still have to be notified for safety reasons.

 

 

Still sounds good.

 

 

Radioactivity for me. A glass of something potent then just lose myself in it. Computer Love another favourite. 

 

Huge regret never having seen them live 😭 

[Mike]

1 hour ago, Onoff said:

Huge regret never having seen them live 😭

They've some concerts in Europe this year: https://kraftwerk.com/concerts/index-concerts.html

[SteamyTea]

1 hour ago, Onoff said:

Huge regret never having seen them live

Half of the originals are alive.

If you want to see pensioners, just come to Cornwall in September.

[Onoff]

46 minutes ago, SteamyTea said:

If you want to see pensioners, just come to Cornwall in September.

 

We have met already! 

[SteamyTea]

1 minute ago, Onoff said:

 

We have met already! 

Does B&Q still have a pensioner day on a Tuesday.

Failing that, a Garden Centre.

[Onoff]

1 hour ago, Mike said:

They've some concerts in Europe this year: https://kraftwerk.com/concerts/index-concerts.html

 

Düsseldorf would be amazing I bet considering Florian Schneider and Ralf Hütter formed the band there. I might go. 

[Onoff]

3 minutes ago, SteamyTea said:

Does B&Q still have a pensioner day on a Tuesday.

Failing that, a Garden Centre.

 

Isn't it Wednesday with 10% off?