ᐅ Preparing for Future Photovoltaic Installation?

You need a second meter if the photovoltaic system has a capacity of 10 kWp or more. If it is 9.8 kWp, your meter will be replaced with a bi-directional meter.

From 30 kWp onwards, a current transformer is required.

So, if you want to plan ahead, first consider how large the system should or can be.

Then decide where the inverter(s) should or can be located.

Preferably, avoid placing them in warm locations.

The strings (possibly conduit) from the panels will be routed to the inverters. Number of conduits? Number of panels and which system?

After that, further planning can continue.

Lumpi_LE schrieb:

In practice, there is never too little money for this, as it reduces your expenses.

Well, when building a new house, you need to have the total amount available... it doesn’t help if an investment (if at all) pays off only after 10-12 years.

Lumpi_LE schrieb:

The modules practically cost nothing anymore.

Well, the costs are by no means negligible; for new installations, they still amount to five-figure sums. About 3 kWp just under five figures, 5 kWp above that. That is not a small amount for a builder.

How quickly photovoltaics pay off with an exact calculation is far from clear. With 3 kWp, I save about 400 euros per year... so it definitely doesn’t pay off within 10 years! Many calculations are highly optimistic.

Knöpfchen schrieb:

You need a second meter if the photovoltaic system has a capacity of 10 kWp or more.

Thanks.

Knöpfchen schrieb:

So if you want to plan ahead, first figure out how large the system should or can be.

At least around 3 kWp, up to 7 kWp, probably closer to 5 kWp. That’s fixed. There isn’t any more roof space available.

Knöpfchen schrieb:

Where the inverter(s) should or could be installed. Preferably not in a warm location.

OK, then probably not the attic, but the garage.

Knöpfchen schrieb:

Number of panels and which system?

I can’t know which system yet. Are there significant differences between the common, cost-effective photovoltaic systems?

Can you roughly estimate how many cables and what thickness are needed with “standard” affordable photovoltaic modules sized around 5 kWp? Or how many conduit pipes would be useful?

That depends on your purchase price. More than €1200 per kWp net is excessive, even for small systems. For comparison: our offer is €900 per kWp all-inclusive with branded components.

Fuchur schrieb:

For comparison: our offer is 900€/kWp all inclusive with branded components.

That sounds great. I haven’t found a provider like that in Hamburg yet. I will keep looking... if anyone has any recommendations... feel free to share. Of course, for new construction.

I also had the electrician install thick cables. My photovoltaic installer didn’t want those and preferred to run their own cables. So, better to install a conduit or, even better, the entire photovoltaic system at once.

I find the utility room in the attic very unfavorable: heat and lifespan issues, higher fire risk, and electromagnetic exposure from the alternating current line running through the house instead of direct current.