Apartment photovoltaics: what are they and how do they work?

Fancy cutting your electricity bill and helping the environment at the same time? Today, the consumption of home lighting, refrigerator, PC, TV and other household appliances can be covered by an apartment photovoltaic system. This solution for the home is a practical, space-saving way to produce renewable energy for self-consumption even when living in an apartment block.

In the case of a so-called Plug&Play system, there’s no need for an installer; it can be installed directly by the buyer on their balcony or on the wall under a window. Simply plug it into the mains, using a dedicated socket, for additional power of up to 340 W.

So how does an apartment photovoltaic system work? Apartment solar panels operate on the same principle as the others: silicon cells absorb light and, through a physical effect known as “photovoltaics”, convert the energy into electricity. An inverter then switches the current from direct to alternating, which is the type commonly used in homes.

What are the advantages of a balcony photovoltaic system

There are many advantages of a Plug&Play type balcony photovoltaic system for energy production and self-consumption:  

• It reduces electricity expenditure by up to 25%.

• It has a minimal footprint, since it is placed outside the balcony or window.

• The installation does not require the intervention of a qualified person or any administrative authorisation, but only prior communication to the apartment block.

• The application for grid connection is easy and free of charge, and activation takes place very quickly.

For flat dwellers, balcony photovoltaics are an effective solution for producing energy in an environmentally sustainable way while saving money on electricity bills.

How to install a balcony photovoltaic system

To optimise the impact of sunlight and thus the energy generation mechanism, it is best to avoid installing balcony photovoltaics in permanently shaded spots.

Although the installation of a Plug & Play system can be performed independently, it is recommended that two people be present for the installation. After temporarily cordoning off the area below for safety reasons, the photovoltaic panel should be secured to the railing or masonry parapet of the balcony, or fixed to the outer wall of the building at a window, following the instructions provided by the seller.

During installation, care must be taken not to lean out dangerously, and to tighten all fastenings correctly. Once installation is complete, all that is needed to start producing energy is to connect the plug of the photovoltaic system to a domestic socket for which a dedicated circuit is provided from the distribution board of the electrical system.

Once the installation has been completed, the Single Communication prepared by ARERA (Energy, Networks and Environment Regulatory Authority) must be sent to your energy supplier. Within 5 days of receiving the communication, the supplier will reprogram the meter to measure the electrical energy fed into and withdrawn from the grid. Then the photovoltaic system can be put into full operation and help to make your home a smart one.

Enel Sun Plug&Play photovoltaic system

In the past, sustainable products were expensive and were exclusively the preserve of wealthy families. Enel wanted to create the conditions for everyone to have access to sustainable products, giving people solid tools to play a leading role in the energy transition. At a time when we are experiencing an increase in the cost of raw materials and thus a rise in utility bills of up to 40%, having environmentally friendly, energy-efficient solutions is more than ever a necessity. Not least because, in addition to reducing CO2 emissions, they also allow significant savings in utility bills.

Thus Enel Sun Plug&Play apartment photovoltaic panelwas born. It is installed on the balcony or near a window and plugged into a dedicated electrical plug, where it can save 25% on the energy component of the bill, forever. It also avoids the emission of 245kg of CO2 in one year, which is the equivalent of that absorbed by 11 trees.

Enel Sun Plug&Play is available at €0 (VAT and delivery included), thanks to the tax incentive of the credit transfer (provided by the Rilancio Law Decree) and by joining the Enel Energia Longbonus Luce offer.

With a small investment, you can therefore contribute to polluting less and save on your utility bill at the same time. A solid example of how the revolution can start with every one of us. If 1,000 apartment photovoltaic panels were installed in a city, the equivalent of 11,000 trees, 245 tonnes of CO2 would be avoided in one year. Considering that in Italy we have about 7.5 million balconies with optimal exposure to the sun, if only 5% adopted photovoltaics, it would be like planting the equivalent of 4,125,000 trees.

Discover all Enel Sun Plug&Play apartment photovoltaic models