I’m sure you’ve heard about it on more than one occasion.
I’m absolutely convinced you’ve seen it advertised or received a message from a well-known French retail chain that carries and sells them in a “plug & play” format.
(NOTE: The photovoltaic panels used for these installations are the ones we have at ATRAE, which are lightweight, flexible, and very powerful.)
In Germany, where they’re significantly ahead of us in the field of hanging panels on balconies (“Balkonkraftwerke”), they’ve gained significant popularity in recent years.
However, they haven’t been immune to controversy there either: lawsuits for misleading advertising, disputes between neighbors that end up in court, or debates about the safety of the installations or compensation for energy dumped into the grid.
Advantages and disadvantages?
They’re simple to install and require minimal maintenance, you save on your electricity bill, and they reduce your carbon footprint.
Power is limited by space and regulations, depends on the orientation and shading of the balcony, and requires permission from the neighbors.
My opinion?
A) If you have a distribution company, sell them too. It’s profitable and they’re increasingly sought after, ask me.
B) If you have an installation company, buy them and install them for your clients. Someone else will do it, and it’s not complicated, ask me.
C) If you’re an individual, get professional advice. You might break something, it’s complicated, ask me (and I’ll give you the phone number of A or B, who will be happy to help you).
