Куц Тина

In Europe now, quite high utility rates, including electricity. That is why apartments have become increasingly interested in balcony photovoltaic, that is, solar panels installed on the balcony. Since there is no possibility to place solar modules on a roof or a land plot in apartment buildings, the owners of the apartments install them near window openings on the outside of the building or on the balcony. In this way, they manage to generate electricity to meet their own energy needs. This step allows you to save considerably on paying utility bills and reduce the load on the network.

In order to make this system work for the owner of an apartment, you simply need to buy a special solar panel and connect it to the power grid. In the conversion of housing, there is no need. The solar battery created for installation on the balcony is equipped with a micro-inverter attached to the back of the device.

Solar panels of this type are not included in the field of regulation by European legislation regarding renewable energy sources. If the owner of the apartment acquires such a device, then the “green” tariff for it will not apply, since the equipment of this area with solar panels in the laws is not indicate.

For a long time the balcony panels remained in the so-called “gray zone”. From the point of view of jurisprudence, there were no prohibitions for their installation. The same was true of technical regulation – at some points the panels were simply not notice. At the same time, Germany, in contrast to other countries, drew attention and the regulatory requirements of the Union of Electrical Devices forbade the connection of panels to the network of the house, since this could lead to the emergence of excessive load.

This prohibition was interpret in different ways, therefore, some authoritative institutions allowed the installation of balcony panels, the power of which does not exceed 600 watts. This duality entailed a massive installation of solar modules on the balconies of multi-storey buildings. Organizations that dealt with the sale of electricity occasionally clashed with ordinary citizens, and representatives of the legal sector did not see in this moment the risk to consumers.

The end of 2017 was mark by the development of a new technical standard, called DIN VDE 0100-551-1. This project concerns low-voltage equipment for generating electricity and connecting devices for generating electricity and working together with other energy sources. This standard will greatly simplify the use of balcony solar modules in terms of legislation. It is plan that the project will be implement next year. It should be note that Austria, Portugal and Switzerland have already legalized the installation of balcony solar stations.

The essence of the work of an apartment solar station is that it adds electricity to the network of a separate apartment, thereby reducing power consumption from the common network.

It is worth paying attention to the fact that any installation that produces electricity cannot be safely connect to a power outlet. There are certain requirements that the generating devices must meet. Switzerland has a number of requirements for balcony panels:

– maximum current intensity – 2,6 A;

– MAX voltage – 230 V;

– The power plant should not exceed 600 watts.

In addition, the balcony panels must be equipped with a protective shutdown system.

Among the prohibitions, the counter is also rotate in the other direction. Such a case can occur when photovoltaic electricity generates more electricity than a separate apartment requires. This problem is simply solve – just set the reverse rotation limiter.

The price of solar modules for balconies in European markets ranges from 1.2 to 1.5 euros per 1W. By simple deductions, it can be determined that a panel that has a power of three hundred watts will cost about 400 euros.

In southern Germany, the balcony station, whose panels are located on the facade of the building, is capable of generating approximately 330 kWh during the year. This amount is about 10 percent of the energy consumption of a small household throughout the year. If the energy needs of the apartment will allow consuming all the generated electricity, and the tariff of the common network will be 29 eurocents per kilowatt-hour, the balcony installation will have a rather short payback period.

The solar station can also be equipped with power storage. Now, this is practical not done, since it requires more financial investments, forces and places in the apartment.

Photovoltaic is a rather unpleasant moment for the energy market. It significantly reduces energy consumption and profit in the system of “energy production-network-realization”.

Balcony solar stations are becoming an increasingly powerful competitor for traditional energy, and right now, it is worth revising the foundations for comfortable coexistence. In the near future, the price of new technologies will decrease and its popularity will grow significantly.

Germany has one of states that have the highest living standards in the world. It should be note that thanks to the high standard of living of citizens it becomes possible and proper domestic service. However, the interesting fact is that such indicators were due to the joint work of the Germans and their self-organization.

The high self-consciousness of the citizens of Germany was found out in the form of creating a number of service cooperatives (credit, construction, communal, etc.), which enable citizens to solve all new problems of an economic nature when private enterprises or individual organizations are unable to provide them with proper services at an affordable price.

Energy co-operatives in Germany are becoming more and more popular – some regions fully provide their members with electricity and have even the rest of it. The main reason for the popularization of energy co-operatives among the Germans is the further decentralization of the services of the energy market, in order to deprive large companies of absolute influence in this area and to enable citizens to make their own decisions on who will supply them with electricity and at what price.

In Germany, cooperatives increasingly began to use cogeneration units, which allow them to receive heat energy, other than electricity, for heating the home. In this process, state and regional programs contribute to solving the energy problem through the introduction of alternative technologies and the growing development of renewable energy sources.

The energy problems are global in scope, so the experience of Germany may be useful to any state, including Ukraine. Experts note that evidence of energy co-operatives in the domestic space is not yet reflect in the literature of the economic sphere of activity.

In Germany, energy cooperatives began to gain popularity in the early twentieth century. Then the main purpose of their creation was the generation of electricity and its proper distribution in the realities of the countryside.

According to estimates, in Germany in 2001, there were 66 co-operative energy associations. In 11 years, this figure has grown to six hundred cooperatives throughout the country. By the end of 2012, the cooperative consisted of more than 80 thousand German citizens, their joint capital amounted to 260 million euros, and the total amount of foreign investment was about 800 million. Already at that time, cooperatives produced 290 thousand megawatts of electricity throughout the year.

According to the Minister of Energy of Germany, the authorities in every way promote and support energy co-operatives. Citizens’ interest in this process played a key role and the state drew attention to the model of co-operative provision as a promising way to solve energy problems.

Experts point out that nearly 90% of Germany’s energy cooperatives have been base in the field of solar energy. This fact is explain by the fact that the energy of the sun can significantly reduce the payback time of projects and gives high performance of objects.

Energy co-operatives in Germany are divide into 4 types:

– those who consume energy (co-operative activities consist in the purchase of electricity and gas and their further distribution);

– those who produce energy through solar, wind and biofuel plants;

– those that produce and consume energy simultaneously (that is, they completely solve the problem of energy supply of their participants);

– those that occupy power generation and simultaneously provide various services (for example, consulting).

Ukraine, whose territory is suitable for the installation of various types of alternative power generation plants, can take advantage of Germany’s experience and solve many economic problems in this way. Among them are the energy supply of settlements and small cities, which will be able to purchase electricity at cost.

Irish entrepreneurs plan to build a 250 MW solar power plant near the village of Levodka (Pavlogradsky district in Dnipropetrovsk region).

According to the site Pavlograd.dp.ua, information on this subject can found in the Memorandum on cooperation in the field of renewable energy, signed by the Irish company Altostra and the regional state administration.

It is planned that the SES, which will be almost the largest in Ukraine, will be located on an area of ​​500 hectares and will provide electricity to more than 40,000 private homes and institutions. This is equivalent to the consumption of electricity by the district center of Pavlograd.

According to Thorsten Merkel, Head of Altostra, the Irish are very interested in co-operating with Ukraine. “We are starting cooperation with the Dnipropetrovsk region,” Merkel concluded.

The solar power plant, to which Altоstrаа plans to invest 255 million euros, will begin operation no earlier than 2020.

Head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration Valentin Reznichenko, commented: “Investors from Ireland are investing in the creation of a SES, which will not cause harmful influence on the environment and produce ecologically pure electricity. In addition, foreign partners promise to provide residents of the region with 450 new jobs. ”

The solar power plant near the village of Levodka will be already the third powerful SES in Dnipropetrovsk, created by the efforts of investors.

Altоstаtа Company is engaged in renewable energy sources and has long been operating in America and Europe.

In recent years, alternative sources of energy have been gaining more and more allies from among ordinary citizens. Especially popular are solar panels (batteries). This technology is several decades old – they have been use in space since the 1960s and in American homes as an alternative source of heating.

In this article, we will consider the installation of solar panels on the roof surface, the sequence and method of installation in stages.

Each house is unique, it is located in a certain area and this should be take into account when installing solar panels. For example, with a dark color of the roof of the house you need to use a light coating. A good option will be a light-colored hydrobaryar, as it will protect the roof from moisture and prevent overheating of the photocell. The angle of installation of the panels should be 30 degrees.

First, on the roof it is necessary to make a marking for the pillars. It is worth paying attention to the fact that the racks must be place parallel to each other at a distance of 100-120 centimeters. Brackets are attach to the roof surface. Anchor-wedge (otherwise – dowel) 6×65.

The installation of this element is quite simple: first, you need to drill a hole, then put lubricant (solidol or similar compounds) in it, put the anchor and drive. This method fixes properly, because the anchor is also use for mounting frames, rails, metal profiles to concrete, stone and brick, and hence this load can withstand without problems. Directly, the anchor should be fixe to the roof support posts, on which metal-tiles were previously mounted. In the case where the roof is made of concrete, the installation is much simpler – just install the anchor at a distance of one meter from each other. You can use a dowel 8×65.

It is possible to use a ruberoid based on fiberglass, which has the following qualities:

• sustainability;
• strength;
• low weight;
• plastic;
• possibility of application on roofs of different shapes and with different angles.

It is important to remember one important rule: installation work is carry out in warm and dry weather.

In addition, you should pay attention to the fact that the surface must be prepared. First, it should be carefully clean of debris. The roof should be flat and pre-greased (you can apply for this purpose White Spirit, for example). Before starting the installation, it is necessary to prime the entire area.

Then on the bracket, you need to put a heated roofing felt, so that it protrudes beyond the edges of the part by at least 5 centimeters. Let it cool down a bit and only after that, you can continue to work.

The rack is attach to the bracket. It is better to use a zinc profile of hot galvanizing with a coating thickness of 70-150 μm. This approach prevents corrosion and guarantees a service life of about 25 years. In order to avoid corrosion of fasteners, it is better to choose aluminum.

After installing the main structure, you can proceed to install the cable part of the solar panels.

The DC cable should be lay under the metal structure. Cables serve as the connection of all solar panels with the subsequent output to the switch and inverter. The wires are secure to the rear side of the profile by plastic clips for easy installation and avoidance of the external environment.

The solar panel itself is attach to the galvanized profile of the “LS-PROFI” type, which persistently tolerates the vagaries of the environment and does not lend itself to corrosion, which is extremely important for this process.

The profile is fasten with a bracket, one side to the rail, and the other to the roof. All connections must be mounted with galvanized bolts (M8 or similar) using a drill or perforator.

It should be noted that when connecting, do not rush. Mount the profiles together with a nut and bolt M8, while creating a strong and reliable connection.

Then clamps used to hold the panel itself. The clamp is mount on the profile with RAL8017 4.8X35 roofing screws – they guarantee reliable connection with simple installation. Mount it on two self-tapping screws, 20 mm apart.

According to this project, DC cables go to the transformer substation. Installation of the transformer substation is carry out in the following way: the substation is fix to the wall of the house with a dowel of at least 100 mm and a diameter of at least 10 mm for reliable coupling. For this purpose, a perforator with a power of at least 1200 watts is required. To connect to a common power grid, an electric cable of 10 kW is use, which is immediately supply to the city power line.

Installation of solar panels according to the above describe method is carried out according to an algorithm that makes it possible to minimize the time spent, money and energy losses in the future.

A detailed, but more concise algorithm for mounting the solar panel:

1) brackets for mounting to the roof are installed in the side groove of the profile;

2) choose the location and mount the bracket to the roof (with a distance of not more than 1.5 m in the center two at the edges);

3) profile adjustment is carried out, as with improper adjustment, mechanical pressure will appear, which will lead to the failure of the batteries. Ideally, one plane must be maintain.

4) the clamp is mounted (one double-sided pressing on the center and two end clamps on both sides);

5) then the panels are placed and fixed by the clamps.

It should be note that the future of our planet is behind the solar panels. The great business of promoting our country along the path of energy independence begins with each of us. Installation of solar panels saves money and protects the environment around us.