Balcony Solar Systems with Battery - Single Phase
A balcony power plant with a storage unit stores any surplus electricity generated during the day and feeds it into the domestic grid in the evening and at night. Without a battery, the system only uses what is consumed at the moment of generation; with a storage unit, the proportion of electricity used for own consumption increases significantly.
The kits listed here are based on three storage options: Growatt NOAH 2000, Growatt NEXA 2000 and Anker SOLIX Solarbank 3 E2700 Pro. The module power output ranges from 910 to 4,000 watts peak; glass-on-glass modules from JA Solar and Trina are used.
Three storage systems, two designs
With the NOAH 2000, the storage unit is positioned between the modules and the inverter. The modules charge the battery, whilst a dedicated micro inverter – the Growatt NEO 800M-X – feeds the electricity into the domestic mains supply. It is included with the NOAH sets, as is a five-metre-long connection cable with a Schuko plug. All sets featuring this storage unit can be found under ‘Balcony Power Plants’ at NOAH 2000.
The NEXA 2000 and the Anker SOLIX Solarbank 3 E2700 Pro are all-in-one units: the battery, charge controller and inverter are housed in a single enclosure. These kits therefore consist solely of the storage unit and modules; a separate inverter is not required. The kits are grouped under ‘Balcony Power Plants’ at NEXA 2000 and ‘Balcony Power Plants’ at Anker Solix Pro 3.
| Storage | Capacity per unit | expandable up to | Charge cycles | protection rating | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Growatt NOAH 2000 | 2.05 kWh | 8.2 kWh | 6,000 | IP66 | 10 years |
| Growatt NEXA 2000 | 2.05 kWh | 8.2 kWh | 6,000 | IP66 | 10 years |
| Anker SOLIX Solarbank 3 E2700 Pro | 2.69 kWh | 16.1 kWh | 6,000 | IP65 | 10 years |
All three use lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) cells. The information on charge cycles, protection rating and warranty is taken from the manufacturers’ data sheets. IP65 and IP66 denote dust-tightness and protection against water jets.
How much storage and how many modules
Between two and just under 2.7 kWh per base unit cover part, but not all, of a household’s evening consumption. Those who need more can expand: NOAH and NEXA can be extended with additional battery modules up to a good 8 kWh, whilst the Solarbank can be expanded with extension batteries up to a good 16 kWh. Whether this is worthwhile depends on your own daily routine. The more consumption occurs in the evening and night-time hours, the more beneficial a larger storage capacity becomes.
The range of modules extends from two modules with 910 to 1,000 Wp, through three and four modules with 1,365 to 2,000 Wp, up to eight modules with 3,640 to 4,000 Wp. A larger module area charges the storage system more quickly, even on overcast days. The power fed into the domestic grid, however, is limited by the inverter: according to the data sheet, this is 800 W for the NEO 800M-X and the NEXA 2000.
What’s included in the sets
Each set contains the modules and the battery. The NOAH sets also include the NEO 800M-X micro inverter and the connection cable. The NOAH sets with four modules and the NEXA sets with eight modules also contain Y-splitters, which combine two modules at each input, and in some cases also connectors and solar cable with a 6 mm² cross-section. The product description for each set lists individually which parts are supplied and in what quantities. Mounting brackets for balcony railings, walls or flat roofs are not included in the sets; these depend on the installation location.
Connection, registration and VAT
A balcony power plant is registered in the market master data register. For the simplified registration process, there are limits on module and inverter power. For sets with eight modules, it is therefore advisable to check with the grid operator before purchasing to find out how the system should be registered.
For photovoltaic systems and their essential components, no value added tax is charged where the conditions of Section 12 (3) of the German VAT Act (UStG) are met. You state during the ordering process whether they apply to you.
Individual storage units and expansion batteries can be found under Storage for balcony power plants, whilst sets without a battery are listed under Balcony power plants without storage. Those wishing to utilise the entire roof will find larger systems under Complete PV sets.
Frequently asked questions about balcony power plants with storage
How much electricity does a balcony power plant with a storage unit store?
The basic unit has a capacity of around 2,kWh for the NOAH 2000 and NEXA 2000 models, and around 2.7,kWh for the Anker, SOLIX and Solarbank 3 E2700 Pro models. This is sufficient to cover part of your evening consumption.
Can the storage be expanded later?
Yes. According to the manufacturer, NOAH 2000 and NEXA 2000 can be expanded to a good 8 kWh, whilst the Anker Solarbank can be expanded to a good 16 kWh. The expansion batteries are available individually.
What is the difference between the NOAH 2000 and the NEXA 2000?
The NOAH 2000 operates with a separate micro inverter, the Growatt NEO 800M-X, which is included in the set. With the NEXA 2000, the inverter is built-in; the set consists solely of the storage unit and modules.
Can I retrofit a battery to my existing balcony power plant?
Individual batteries are available in the range of batteries for balcony power plants. You can check whether a battery is compatible with your modules and your inverter in both data sheets, particularly with regard to input voltage and connection type.
How long does the battery last?
The manufacturers specify 6,000 charge cycles and a ten-year warranty for all three batteries. The cells are LiFePO4 (LiFePO4).
Do I need to register the balcony power plant?
Yes, with the Market Master Data Register. For the larger sets comprising eight modules, check with your distribution network operator before purchasing to find out how to register the system.