Balcony solar calculator
This balcony solar calculator shows how much electricity your plug-in solar panels produce per year, how much of it you use yourself and after how many years the savings on your power bill have paid for the purchase.
Source: PVGIS (Europäische Kommission, JRC) – annual yield per kWp for the location and orientation. Updated: .
How it is calculated
Two panels of 800 Wp together produce about 580 kWh a year at 1000 kWh per kWp, a 75 % orientation factor and 3 % clipping; with 60 % self-consumption and 0.30 per kWh that saves around 105 a year. The calculator works it out with your own values.
How it is calculated
- Annual output: panel power in kWp times the yield per kWp at optimal orientation times the orientation factor times (1 minus clipping losses).
- Savings: self-consumed electricity times your power price; the fed-in rest times the tariff, usually zero.
- Payback: purchase cost against the cumulative yearly savings, with price rise and panel ageing.
What the output depends on
Location sets the yield: the value for optimal orientation runs from roughly 900 kWh per kWp in northern Europe to well over 1500 in the south. East, west or vertical on a railing lowers it. Savings also depend on how much you use while the sun shines: fridge, router and standby devices form the base load.
Related tools: appliance power costs, the payback calculator and the sun position.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does balcony solar produce?
With 800 Wp and a typical balcony orientation roughly 500 to 700 kWh a year. The calculator uses your own location, orientation and loss figures.
How long does balcony solar take to pay back?
With a cost of 700, 0.30 per kWh and about 580 kWh at 60 % self-consumption, roughly seven years. More self-consumption and rising power prices shorten it.
What is the self-consumption share?
The part of the output you use yourself. Without a battery it is often 40 to 70 percent; the rest flows into the grid and is usually not paid for.
Where do I find the yield for my location?
The free PVGIS tool of the European Commission gives the yield in kWh per kWp for your location, tilt and orientation.
Does shading matter?
Yes, a lot. The calculator does not model shading, so lower the orientation factor if trees or buildings shade the panels.
Sources and legal basis
- PVGIS (Europäische Kommission, JRC) – annual yield per kWp for the location and orientation
- Bundesnetzagentur – Balkon-Solaranlagen (800 VA, 2000 Wp, Registrierung im Marktstammdatenregister)
As of: · Editorial policy
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