Balcony power plant (BPP)

 A balcony power plant (also known as a mini solar power plant) is a compact solar power plant that has been specially developed for private use and can be easily installed on balconies or small areas.

Balcony power plants as a central component of the energy transition:

• Decentralised energy production: they enable private individuals to produce their own electricity and thus be less dependent on large electricity suppliers.
• Increasing the share of renewable energies: The use of solar energy from balcony power plants helps to increase the proportion of renewable energy in the energy mix.
• Reduction of CO₂ emissions: Solar power is climate-friendly and helps to reduce CO₂ emissions.
• Increasing energy autonomy: Balcony power plants enable households to increase their energy autonomy.

Balcony power plants are characterised by their ease of use and installation. They do not require any major structural changes, are relatively inexpensive and are therefore an attractive entry-level system for solar energy for many private individuals.

In modern households, balcony power plants can be combined with smart home technologies to utilise the electricity generated efficiently, e.g. through automated control of appliances or storage solutions for later use.

Training content

Application of local legal principles
Technical structure of the individual components of a balcony power plant
Functionality of a balcony power plant
Functionality of an MPPT controller
Differences between MPPT and PWM controllers
Accessing the micro inverter via WiFi
Series and parallel connection of solar modules
Shading and power losses
Grid protection, grid feedback and self-consumption
Use of blocking diodes, Schottky diode