Balcony power plants (also known as plug-in solar systems ) are becoming increasingly popular as a way to use self-generated electricity and at the same time contribute to climate protection . But how environmentally friendly are these mini solar systems really? An important key figure for assessing the environmental compatibility of balcony power plants is the CO₂ balance.

In this article we examine the question of whether balcony power plants actually have a positive influence on the CO₂ balance and how they compare to other energy sources. We not only look at the direct CO₂ emissions, but also the indirect ones that arise during the manufacture and disposal of the devices.

How high are the CO₂ savings with a balcony power plant?

The carbon footprint of a balcony power plant depends on various factors, such as the type of solar modules used, the manufacturing process of the modules, the origin of the electricity needed to produce the device and its components, as well as the inverter and storage used.

In general, however, a balcony power plant has a very positive CO2 balance because it produces clean energy from renewable sources and thus helps to reduce CO2 emissions.

However, it is important to note that in practice the carbon footprint of balcony power plants depends on various factors, such as the power generation mix of the electricity provider, the geographical location of the balcony power plant and the orientation and inclination of the balcony. An exact determination of the CO2 balance therefore requires individual consideration and can vary from case to case.

Example calculation for an 800 watt balcony power plant

For our example, we take a plug-in solar system with two monocrystalline half-cell solar modules (400 watts each) and a legally compliant inverter with 600 watts of feed-in power .

According to the current balcony power plant test from EnergyMagazine, the currently best balcony power plants with a peak output of 800 watts peak generate around 560 - 815 kWh per year . When it comes to saving on electricity costs, it is of course also important to know how much of the electricity you can actually use yourself. However, this is less important for the CO₂ balance, since unused electricity is simply “given away” into the public power grid and flows to your neighbors, for example.

The balcony power plant from our example calculation would therefore save up to 330 kilograms of CO2 . We'll explain whether that's a lot in the next paragraph...

CO2 balance in relation to car or other sources

To understand the significance of 300kg of CO2 savings from an 800W balcony power plant in relation to CO2 consumption from cars or other sources, we can make a comparison using some data.

The exact amount of CO2 produced by the operation of a car depends on various factors, such as the type of car, fuel consumption, distance traveled and driving style. According to the Federal Environment Agency in Germany, an average car emits around 129 g of CO2 per kilometer . This means that a saving of 300 kg of CO2 through a balcony power plant is equivalent to driving around 2,326 kilometers in an average car.

Another example: According to the Federal Ministry for the Environment, an average household in Germany produces around 10.8 tons of CO₂ per year . A saving of 330 kg of CO₂ through a balcony power plant would correspond to around 3% of the annual CO₂ emissions of an average household.

These comparisons are intended to illustrate that a saving of 330 kg of CO2 through a balcony power plant does not represent a huge amount of emissions saved, but can still help reduce the carbon footprint. Any contribution to reducing carbon emissions, no matter how small, can help combat climate change and protect the environment.

Do the production of a balcony power plant produce CO₂ emissions?

A photovoltaic system does not produce CO2 emissions during its operation because it does not use combustion processes or other chemical reactions to produce energy. Instead, it converts sunlight directly into electrical energy.

However, there are CO₂ emissions that can arise during the production of photovoltaic modules, inverters and other system components. The amount of these emissions depends on various factors, such as the type of materials used, the manufacturing processes and the energy source used to produce the equipment.

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Image source: Alexander Jakob / EnergyMagazine

However, it is important to note that the CO₂ emissions produced by the production of photovoltaic systems are comparatively small compared to the emissions released by the production of energy from fossil fuels.

Does disposing of solar modules harm the environment?

Although the lifespan of a balcony power plant is very long at around 30 to 40 years, the components have to be disposed of at some point...

Disposal of solar panels can potentially have a negative impact on the environment if not done properly. Solar panels are made from various materials, such as glass, aluminum, plastics and silicon , all of which must be recycled or otherwise disposed of.

If solar panels are disposed of incorrectly, some of the materials they contain can cause harm to the environment. For example, the cadmium contained in solar panels , a heavy metal, can be toxic and cause harm if released into the environment in an uncontrolled manner. It is therefore important that solar panels are properly recycled or otherwise disposed of to minimize their potential environmental impact.

Many countries have laws that regulate the disposal of solar modules and require manufacturers to provide programs for the take-back and disposal of old or defective modules. These programs are designed to properly recycle or otherwise dispose of the solar panels. You can find more information about the disposal of photovoltaic systems in this article .

Overall, however, the environmental impact of disposing of solar panels is relatively small compared to the environmental impact of fossil fuels or other non-renewable energy sources. Solar energy continues to be one of the cleanest and most environmentally friendly energy sources we can use to meet our energy needs.


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1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )