ᐅ Introduction to Photovoltaic Systems (New Construction)

Hello everyone,

I have tried to learn about photovoltaic systems, but so far I have mostly come across very optimistic (Google) advertising offers. Here in the forum, I have mainly read critical (mostly older) posts.

About my concern:
We are currently planning a (pitched roof) new build for early 2017 with a south/east and north/west orientation, and so far we have followed the classic gas condensing boiler/solar thermal system with a hot water storage tank concept. A colleague at work brought photovoltaics to my attention. When he told me that he (theoretically) generates 3500 kWh/year with a system he bought for 7000€ about three years ago (but without a battery storage), I became curious.

I would like to know how realistic it is to achieve such output with an investment of around 10,000€ and to use it entirely on your own? We currently live in an apartment (3 people) and consume about 3800 kWh/year. Of course, I have quickly dismissed the idea of an easy profit from the “fast market”...

If even remotely possible, I would appreciate any literature or pricing information for such a project.

So, this topic comes up about every week, always with the same conclusion: unless you have specific appliances that run exclusively during the day, you will never fully consume your own electricity. In the evening, you will always have to buy power from the grid.

RobsonMKK schrieb:
...you will never use all the electricity yourself...

Thank you for your reply – this is also what I have mostly read so far, but if I remember correctly, storage was rarely mentioned. I completely lack the perspective on the possibility of storing electricity and using it myself.

Feeding electricity back into the grid has not really been interesting to me so far (mainly because of the bureaucracy…).

jeti79 schrieb:
Feeding electricity back into the grid hasn't really been of interest to me so far (mainly because of the bureaucracy...)

Apart from covering your own partial consumption, it’s the only sensible option. Achieving 100% self-sufficiency is not possible with the available battery storage systems and is economically completely unreasonable.

Ok, I see that I haven’t fully understood the matter yet.
So I guess I have little choice but to inquire with a local installation company?

Achieving 100% self-sufficiency is probably not possible at the moment either – I had the illusion that I could drastically reduce my electricity costs (including by charging a battery storage system).

You can reduce your electricity costs. You can even generate 3500 kWh of electricity with the desired investment of 10,000€ (and possibly more).
The question is whether it is cost-effective. And you have excluded an important factor, namely dealing with taxes and related matters, because without those or the feed-in process, it simply won’t work.
Search for “photovoltaics” and “forum” and do some reading.