Fully utilizing electricity from the balcony power plant

The advantages of a balcony power plant are numerous: super easy to connect, cost-effective, electricity savings, and the ability to use renewable energy even in an apartment (rented or owned) – all without the need for official permits!

The only downside: there is no feed-in tariff, and with a maximum feed-in capacity of 800 watts, owners may not be able to use all the energy themselves. The surplus energy adds up over the year – with an average utilization rate of around 30 to 50%. Depending on the location and the orientation or inclination, owners of a balcony PV system could end up giving away up to 560 kWh of electricity annually to their energy provider.

However, this energy can be efficiently used within the home or apartment, leading to further cost savings on heating. The primary goal of a balcony power plant is to become more self-sufficient.

Achieving 100% self-consumption is therefore in the interest of the owner of a balcony power plant. But how can this be accomplished?

Utilize 100% of solar energy in the household—with the EcoTracker and my-PV

The EcoTracker from everHome monitors energy consumption in real time. This allows, for example, 100% self-consumption with a balcony power plant and our heating solutions.

The EcoTracker measures directly at the smart meter to monitor energy flow – showing whether and how much electricity is being consumed or fed into the grid. This data helps to manage consumption and save money. Installation is plug & play, without needing wiring expertise or modifying the meter cabinet. According to the manufacturer, the EcoTracker can be easily attached to any German smart meter.

Using surplus energy from a balcony power plant

Balcony PV systems typically do not receive a feed-in tariff due to the disproportionate effort and benefit. However, the aim is to consume as much self-generated energy as possible within the home.

With the EcoTracker from everHome, surplus energy can be easily detected via an app. One option is to manually reduce the surplus by switching on additional appliances (e.g., washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, etc.).

An easier approach is to use the surplus energy, which is normally fed into the public power grid, for linearly controlled water heating. my-PV products are now compatible with the EcoTracker, enabling surplus detection to be directly utilized for my-PV's PV thermal solutions.

Is 100% self-consumption worthwhile with a balcony power plant?

Let's look at the initial scenario: With up to 560 kWh of otherwise non-remunerated surplus energy from a balcony power plant, significant energy is available. This energy can be smoothly regulated and directed by the AC•THOR to the immersion heater in the home or apartment, detected by the EcoTracker from everHome, for instance.

Calculating with an electricity price of €0.35/kWh for water heating, customers could save nearly 200€ annually. The manufacturer's recommended price for the AC•THOR is 831€. Factoring in this investment, the additional cost for the AC•THOR, which precisely uses surplus energy for water heating, pays off from the fifth year onwards.

The advantage is that even more electricity from the balcony power plant can be used, providing greater value and increased independence from future electricity price hikes.