Why do Europeans need permission from their governors to buy solar panels? I bet you also need to pay taxes on the energy you generate even though you alleviate the infrastructure need.
You need permission to connect it to the grid.
Solar panels at Lidl? Plug-in versions set to appear in shops
51–60 of 88 posts
Re: Solar panels at Lidl? Plug-in versions set to appear in shops
#52We 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!
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?
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)
Re: Solar panels at Lidl? Plug-in versions set to appear in shops
#53We 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!
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?
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.
Re: Solar panels at Lidl? Plug-in versions set to appear in shops
#54Wouldn't it make much more sense to deliver them with a battery? How would you connect a battery to such system?
Re: Solar panels at Lidl? Plug-in versions set to appear in shops
#55How does panel shut-off work for emergency responders? Where I live, a solar energy system is required to have a shut off switch. For example, my system has a big red handle mounted on the side of the house. This is important not just for first responders like firefighters but also for linemen repairing downed lines, which are pretty common where I live (a mountainous rural area).
Given that these store-bought panels are being plugged into house AC, it follows that they have built-in inverters. Many grid-tied inverters are “grid follow”, meaning that they adjust themselves to grid frequency/phase. So, just speculating here… maybe the inverter senses when the mains go down and turns itself off? I would love to know from an EE what is actually happening wrt safety.
Re: Solar panels at Lidl? Plug-in versions set to appear in shops
#56How does panel shut-off work for emergency responders? Where I live, a solar energy system is required to have a shut off switch. For example, my system has a big red handle mounted on the side of the house. This is important not just for first responders like firefighters but also for linemen repairing downed lines, which are pretty common where I live (a mountainous rural area). Given that these store-bought panels…
These inverters have to switch off if they cannot detect a grid signal, or if the grid frequency/voltage goes out of the safe range.
Same legislation as the non-plug&play inverters.
Re: Solar panels at Lidl? Plug-in versions set to appear in shops
#57How does panel shut-off work for emergency responders? Where I live, a solar energy system is required to have a shut off switch. For example, my system has a big red handle mounted on the side of the house. This is important not just for first responders like firefighters but also for linemen repairing downed lines, which are pretty common where I live (a mountainous rural area). Given that these store-bought panels…
It'll be the same as larger inverters for roof-top solar - they are constantly monitoring the mains cycle and will shut off if the voltage (or probably frequency too?) goes out of range, let alone drops out entirely. The relevant standards in the UK are G98/G99.
Re: Solar panels at Lidl? Plug-in versions set to appear in shops
#58Wouldn't it make much more sense to deliver them with a battery? How would you connect a battery to such system?
The UK regs update[1] mentions a battery, but you have to pay for it so I don't have the details.
It appears your could legally install one of these panels on the 15th of this month, but there presumably won't be any certified to comply with the regs on sale yet.
[1] https://electrical.theiet.org/amendment-4-updates-to-18th-ed...
Re: Solar panels at Lidl? Plug-in versions set to appear in shops
#59Earlier quoted context omitted.
That's 3rd world country problem, British people (with salary in top places of Europe) must save money!
Britain has the 8th-most expensive electricity in the world[1], seems prudent that a Brit would try to be more self-sufficient in terms of generation? [1] https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/cost-of-e...
Ok.
On your map, let's say the source is valid, UK has $0.4. I'm from CZ, we have $0.35.
UK has more than double median salary, DOUBLE. Which means that in some cities it will be actually more like 2x or 3x smaller. But price of electricity is more or less same in the whole country here.
Don't tell me something about expensive electricity and saving money. Because on top of that, let's check affordable housing stats
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/affordabl...
Yep, one of the worst in EU, yaay.
Re: Solar panels at Lidl? Plug-in versions set to appear in shops
#60Man, I'd buy these in a heartbeat if our local Cyprus regulations allowed for these. Participating in green transition as an immigrant renter sucks.
Check with your local utility. Here, (MA, USA), we can't run classic balcony solar (feeds the grid when you produce more than you consume). But we can run zero-export solar (never feeding the grid, but dialing back the inverter when you produce more than you consume).
The economics behind battery-backed zero-export solar are interesting because they keep your local solar energy local, and you can extract maximum benefit from the system. Also, if you have enough batteries and TOD rates for grid power, you can store grid energy when it's cheap (overnight) and use it locally when it's expensive.
Our local utility, National Grid, has a program where, if you have the right inverter-battery combination, they will buy power from you during peak-load periods, and you can make a couple of grand a year.
Batteries, especially local ones, change the dynamics of power generation and use. It's amazing and wonderful.