What can a window solar panel do and when is it worth using?

Saving money on energy is probably everyone’s dream. Are you planning to visit the world’s tallest building or some famous landmark? Then the extra money will come in handy. A window solar panel can help you make that happen. You can use one on the balcony or terrace of your family house, but also, for example, on the balcony of a flat in a prefab block.

First, work out your consumption

Maths is everywhere, so you can’t avoid calculating the electricity consumption in your home either. On the other hand, it will give you a picture of how things work in your household from another angle. So how do you do it? Take the current price of electricity per 1 kWh and multiply it by 24 hours. This gives you the consumption for one day. Then multiply this amount by the current electricity price, multiply the result by the number of days in the month, and you will have the price that shows your monthly consumption. This will also give you a reason to get a window solar panel. However, there may be even more reasons.

Advantages

• low purchase price
• option to get a subsidy
• almost free to run
• easy installation
• heats water by at least 6°C
• suitable even for small pools
• You don’t rely solely on your distributor

Disadvantages

• You need more panels for a larger pool
• works mainly on sunny days, 11 am to 3 pm
• longer heating time
• heat loss in colder weather
• You need permission from the owners’ association (SVJ)

What a window solar panel consists of

What does a balcony solar panel actually consist of? It usually has one or two panels that can generate up to 600 Wp. It has a microinverter and a battery. As the name suggests, a solar panel produces electricity from sunlight. The inverter converts this energy into electricity that you can then use at home. All you need to do is plug it into a power socket and the electricity will flow to your TV, American-style fridge, washing machine or dishwasher. Logically, you will draw less electricity from the grid.

Where best to place a solar panel

The best place on a balcony is the railing, but if you don’t have a balcony, you can also put it on a window, a roof area above the flat or above a garage. Definitely don’t put it on a windowsill in a recess or on a wall under a balcony. Sunlight might not reach your panel. Also consider buying a transparent solar panel. It lets daylight through without any problem and generates electricity at the same time.

You can choose from a wide range of designs.

The most modern window solar panels look like ordinary glass and let light through just like standard windows. However, they are made from a different type of glass that absorbs ultraviolet radiation and infrared light and converts them into electricity. 

A window solar panel is not a bad choice, you just need to position it correctly and follow the rules.