Soleis: Electricity storage for balcony power plants introduced

The Swiss company Soleis has presented an electricity storage system for balcony power plants. This should make it possible to store electricity generated by balcony solar power systems that is not directly consumed. Thus, the surplus of sunny days can be used at night or on other days.

Up to 60 percent surplus?

According to Soleis, up to 60 percent more electricity is generated than consumed on sunny days. Without a storage device, this excess electricity cannot be used – so it is ultimately lost. So far, photovoltaic systems for balconies have not been really efficient. With the now presented current storage for such balcony power plants this is to be changed. The minitower from Soleis can store electricity and feed it into the residential grid at later times.

Since the Minitower itself also needs to be supplied with electricity, it is equipped with rechargeable batteries. To charge these, two photovoltaic elements can be installed on the storage device. In addition, there are connection options for two further elements. The solar modules installed here feed the generated electricity directly into the residential grid. This ensures that generated electricity reaches the storage device, its batteries and the apartment. The amount of energy that the storage device delivers can be continuously adjusted within a range of 30 to 270 watts.

The Soleis storage device can convert direct current to alternating current and can be connected to the home’s power supply either directly via the wall socket or via a Wieland plug. Which option is better in an individual case depends primarily on the legislation, which varies from country to country. In any case, it does not require lengthy installation.

Prices and availability

Offered is the power storage for balcony power plants in two different sizes. The smaller version can store one kilowatt-hour of electricity; the larger version stores two kilowatt-hours. It is not yet known how expensive the two storage devices will be and when they will be available for sale.

Those who want to get a balcony power plant with a storage device can benefit from government subsidies. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, state money is already available to promote such systems. The other German states intend to follow suit.