Five things to know about apartment photovoltaic panels

Never before has it been so easy to self-produce part of the energy for our domestic consumption, and thus reduce our bills. This is why many of us are considering a product such as the apartment photovoltaic system, which can be easily installed on the balcony or on the wall at a window, allowing us to self-produce energy for domestic consumption.

Five things you didn't know about apartment photovoltaics

However, there are still a number of doubts that hold us back when purchasing a balcony photovoltaic panel. Let’s take a look:

1. What paperwork and authorisations does it require?

None. No paperwork or application is necessary. The bureaucracy is practically non-existent. In fact, the installation of the panel falls under “Free Building”, with the exception of installations in historic centres or with landscape constraints. What’s more, no authorisation from the apartment block is required to install a panel like this. According to Art. 1122 bis of the Civil Code, prior notice is sufficient.

2. How much does an apartment photovoltaic panel produce? What can you cover?

The small size of the panel, compared to a roof-mounted photovoltaic system naturally results in a lower output, but what you really have to ask yourself is whether or not buying a balcony panel is an advantage in the medium to long term. The panel produces about 470kWh per year, and the energy produced manages to cover those consumptions we normally don’t think about, such as the refrigerator, the TV set or the air conditioner when running. These consumptions often go unnoticed, but they can weigh heavily on your bill. By covering them with the energy production of a balcony panel, you can achieve savings of around 25% on your energy bills every year, and the emission of the same amount of CO2 as that absorbed by around 10 trees is avoided. This makes the choice of balcony photovoltaics definitely sustainable from all points of view!

3. Is it complicated to install? Is a specialised company needed?

“Plug and Play” refers to those products that do not need complicated configuration, but are immediately functional from the moment they are plugged into the socket. This is also the name given to balcony photovoltaics, precisely because the installation does not necessarily have to be done by a specialised technician and, once connected to the dedicated power outlet, the panel starts producing immediately. Balcony photovoltaic panels also have the great advantage of being able to be installed by people who do not have their own roof, precisely because of their small size. Technically, it is not even strictly necessary to have a balcony, because the same panel can also be purchased with a wall mounting kit.

This results in savings of time and money, because you do not have to bring in an outside company. The optimal exposure is south, which guarantees longer exposure to the sun's rays during the day, but the panel maintains good production levels even with east/west exposure. The panel tilt for most efficient production is 25 degrees.

4. Is a storage system necessary?

Given the simplicity, speed of installation and small footprint of this type of system, production is naturally lower than that of an actual roof-mounted photovoltaic system, and so there are those who wonder how to increase the energy production of this product. Under normal conditions, a flat is always able to absorb the energy produced by the panel, so connection to a storage system would be completely superfluous. However, it is possible to install more than one Plug&Play panel, thus covering a larger portion of our consumption needs. Up to 2 panels can be installed without requiring any permission. From 3 panels upwards, however, the 800W power limit is exceeded and the same procedure must be followed as for standard photovoltaic systems.

5. Are there disposal costs?

We have seen that the main resistance to the benefits of a Plug&Play photovoltaic panel is unfounded, so now all that remains is to answer the last question. No, there are no disposal costs.

The panel has an average life of about 30 years, and when it is replaced, it simply needs to be taken to a WEEE collection centre to optimise the material recycling process, at no extra cost. Yes, because just like any other household appliance, the disposal costs are already included in the purchase price.

Many people think that photovoltaic panels are highly polluting and impossible to “dispose of”. The reality is that a panel is made almost entirely of recyclable materials: 76% is glass, 8% aluminium, 5% silicon, 1% copper and 10% is plastic. On average, about 95% of the panel is recycled.

With a small investment, you can therefore contribute to polluting less and, at the same time, save on your energy bill.

See all of the Enel X Sun Plug&Play apartment photovoltaic models