Balcony solar or a full PV system? An honest comparison

Guide

First things first: we don’t build balcony solar systems

So that you don’t read on and end up disappointed — C&F Flöckner does not install balcony solar systems. What we do is photovoltaic systems on roofs and façades, as a carport, a fence or a large-scale array, plus battery storage and commercial storage.

This page exists anyway, because we are asked about it regularly — and because the choice between a balcony system and a roof array is frequently made the wrong way round. Anyone with their own roof who opts for a plug-in module usually gives away the larger part of the achievable yield.

What a balcony solar system is

A balcony solar system — also called a plug-in PV system — consists of one or two modules and a small inverter. The modules are fixed to the balcony railing, the façade, the terrace or the garden fence, and the inverter connects to an existing circuit via a plug. The electricity generated flows straight into the household.

• No work on the roof covering, no scaffolding, no building site
• Can be dismantled when you move and reused at your new home
• Considerably lower purchase cost than a roof array
• No storage — whatever is not consumed right away goes to the grid

What it realistically delivers

A balcony system covers the base load: the consumption that runs continuously anyway — fridge, router, heating pump, standby devices. That is exactly where generation reliably meets demand.

What it does not cover is evening consumption. If you are out during the day and only cook and do laundry in the evening, you shift less than you might hope, because nothing is stored. The yield itself depends on the same four factors as any system — orientation, tilt or mounting angle, shading and consumption profile.

• Worthwhile — flat or terraced house without a usable roof, balcony facing south, east or west, steady base consumption
• Less worthwhile — heavily shaded north-facing balcony, very low base consumption, or your own roof still standing empty

The comparison, in orders of magnitude

The difference is not a nuance but a matter of scale:

1. Area

   A balcony system works with one or two modules. A typical roof array on a detached house uses many times that — and the annual yield follows accordingly.

2. Connection

   A plug into an existing circuit, as against permanent wiring with a dedicated inverter integrated into the building's electrical system.

3. Storage capability

   The balcony system has no storage. A roof array can be combined with battery storage that carries solar power into the evening — which lifts self-consumption substantially.

4. Subsidies

   Photovoltaic systems in Salzburg are eligible for provincial subsidies; the routes to them are described on our PV page. Separate and differing rules apply to plug-in modules.

Registration: even the small system must be reported

Plug-in systems must be registered with the responsible grid operator — for most of the province this is Salzburg Netz GmbH. A simplified procedure exists for small systems.

We deliberately do not state the currently valid power range or connection requirements as figures here: these rules have been changed repeatedly in Austria, and an out-of-date number on a website is worse than none. Ask the grid operator directly for the current position.

As a tenant you will generally also need your landlord’s consent, and in a condominium that of the owners’ association — certainly where the mounting affects the building fabric or changes its appearance. Clarify this before you order.

Do you have your own roof? Then do that calculation first

The most common mistake is starting with a balcony system while a roof area sits empty. The purchase is cheaper — but so is the yield, by a wide margin, and there is no storage.

If you have a roof, a façade, a spot for a carport or a suitable open area, the honest calculation for a proper system comes first. That is exactly what we are here for: