Expanding Trend: The substantial rise in the count of balcony power stations persists in Germany
The number of these so-called balcony energy plants has been skyrocketing in Germany. A staggering 152,000 of these tiny setups were registered in the second quarter of 2024, as reported by the "Mirror" on Saturday, based on data from the Federal Network Agency. In total, there were approximately 270,000 of these mini-solar installations in 2023.
As per an analysis by the consulting firm Oliver Wyman in Bonn, Bonn topped the list with 5.16 of these balcony energy plants per 1,000 residents, according to the "Mirror". This was followed by Dresden with 4.10 units, Essen (3.37), Leipzig (2.94), and Mönchengladbach (2.78).
Munich had a considerably lower figure of 1.38, just slightly higher than Berlin (1.36), Hamburg (1.31), Hannover (1.30), Frankfurt am Main (1.27), and Düsseldorf (0.97). In rural areas, the demand for balcony energy plants was almost triple that in urban areas.
Balcony energy plants are small-scale solar installations that have a noticeably easier registration process. They can also be connected via a standard electrical outlet. The typical savings are around 215 euros per year or 17% of electricity bills, as reported by the "Mirror". They can be installed on balcony railings, but also in other locations.
Due to the increased popularity of balcony power plants, many cities in Germany are now home to these mini-solar installations. Munich, despite having less density, still boasts over 1,300 of these balcony energy plants.
While the demand for balcony power plants is higher in rural areas, cities like Bonn lead the way with a high number of these installations per capita, showcasing a growing interest in renewable energy solutions.
