Plug in solar panels

[sammydavis]

Does anyone know if these are yet available here and if so, what thouoghts? They are very popular apparently in France etc and are called balcony panels. Sounds ideal to just plug into say one aircon unit in summer. Now being plugged in uk under their friend, not, Mr Milliband!

[kibsolar1999]

as you plug them into a socket, balcony systems are grid connected.
in UK, france, germany.... permitted is one system per household with different max power regulations...
eg, in Germany: max 2000Wp solar panels in combination with a max 800 W inverter.

no matter the size, all grid connected systems in TRNC need a (application and a ) permission.
so, the practice you mention is illegal in TRNC.

any grid connected system will, from time to time and if it is only for a very short time, feed the grid.
your smart e-meter will count any "feed in" and kibtek can see that. if they do, you get fined.

[Dalartokat]

These are not compatible in UK due to our plug sockets. Ed Milliband threw this around the other week on the Laura Kuensberg show on BBC as if people could just go out and by them..not true... Lidl or Aldi are going to be selling them in the future in conjunction with a company who makes them and predicts they will be between £300 to £400.

[kibsolar1999]

These are not compatible in UK due to our plug sockets. Ed Milliband threw this around the other week on the Laura Kuensberg show on BBC as if people could just go out and by them..not true... Lidl or Aldi are going to be selling them in the future in conjunction with a company who makes them and predicts they will be between £300 to £400.

to change a plug is not a big deal..
the UK always have been a bit late with introducing solar energy.. and nowadays the new regulation "BS 7671 amendment 4", made for balcony systems is under way and which seems to come summer 2026.
as i understood, like in EU, a max 800W inverter output will be permitted, one system for each household (e-meter).

this kind of regulations do not exist in TRNC and therefore balcony PV systems, with or without batteries, are illegal.

it seems that many "hybrit systems" offered in TRNC do work "nearly similar" and are illegal as well.
and one thing more: many people (buyer and seller) do not (want to ??) understand the difference between a hybrit inverter and an off-grid inverter.
a hybrit inverter is NOT an off grid inverter.
a hybrit inverter is made to supplement the grid and works "sometimes" off grid in case of power cuts.
an offgrid inverter works off grid and can take the grid as a supplement.

thats a huge difference.
best

[benjaminbutton]

Are they illegal because its a loss of revenue to KIBTEK or because the installation of wiring etc in TRNC is not compatible?

[kibsolar1999]

Are they illegal because its a loss of revenue to KIBTEK or because the installation of wiring etc in TRNC is not compatible?

by law, only kibtek is permitted to feed the grid. for sure for revenue reasons, but also for safety reasons, as wiring, wire diameters, grid standarts, the lot.
grid feed from "others" is permitted under different laws, eg, Aksa power station or the "renewable energy law".

if any kind of PV solar wants to be connected to the grid, you need to apply to the ministry of energy, who then finally gives you the permission to feed the grid. kibtek checks the installation only and is forced by law to do the "net metering accounting".

balcony systems eg, in Europe are directly connected to a socket/grid to reduce the load, but you do not get any revenue for any excess energy.
all grid providers will install smart meters to any balcony system owners, as they need to know how much excess power comes from these systems when and in total to avoid any grid instability.
this becomes more and more important, as minimum 1,2 million systems are installed already and more and more to come.

this "grid stability" is even more very important here, as the TRNCs electric system is an off-grid system with no interconnection to eg, TR.

thats also a reason why balcony systems or any other grid feed (guerilla ) systems must be under the strict control of kibtek.

[benjaminbutton]

Just one more query. We have the usual two panels, as do most people, so would we have any problems adding one further panel next to them on the roof,

[kibsolar1999]

Just one more query. We have the usual two panels, as do most people, so would we have any problems adding one further panel next to them on the roof,

you do have a balcony system in TRNC?

to add another panel to your system, here: the inverter, is up to the specs of your inverter, so, i can not say yes or no.

[Laura B]

Are the panels benjaminbutton is referring to pv panels or merely hot water solar panels? Surely totally different from each other?

[benjaminbutton]

Talking about bog standard hot water panels. Nothing whatsoever to do with AC etc., They are totally out of my league.

[Laura B]

Yes Bb. That's what I thought. The rest of the thread is about pv panels which produce electricity through an inverter. Not a problem but I think maybe kibsolar is talking about a different thing from you having read his reply.

[sammydavis]

Very interesting and informative information, so thank you. I know a few people who have had solar panel systems installed in their gardens and they were told no permission needed..... ooops!

[snd1966]

Very interesting and informative information, so thank you. I know a few people who have had solar panel systems installed in their gardens and they were told no permission needed..... ooops!

I know several who have disconnected their pump room and use solar to solely run it. Good idea until they had no back up with very little sun in the winter and in the summer evenings when their overflow pools were being emptied playing captain splash! Water returned to the ballast tank either stayed there or went out the overflow!! I didn't ask about permission though.

Did not want to write a new post
Captain splash is where people dive bomb into the pool, water either runs off surrounding area or returns to the ballast tank. Due to pump not running at night water is considerably lowered in the swimming area while this happens, especially if the ballast tank is full.

[kibsolar1999]

Very interesting and informative information, so thank you. I know a few people who have had solar panel systems installed in their gardens and they were told no permission needed..... ooops!

I know several who have disconnected their pump room and use solar to solely run it. Good idea until they had no back up with very little sun in the winter and in the summer evenings when their overflow pools were being emptied playing captain splash! Water returned to the ballast tank either stayed there or went out the overflow!! I didn't ask about permission though.

one comment: in these pools a one way valve is missing.

to make clear: you do not need a permission for "solar panels in your garden" which do run "something" independent. eg, a solar garden light or.. eg, a solar well pump or a solar pool pump. the condition is: the lamp, the pump, is not connected to the grid.
for more info: www.lorentz.de (solar pumps which do run directly from solar panels DC power).
so, if you install solar panels and an inverter which does produce 240 VAC to supplement your house needs, it is illegal.
if you install solar panels with an inverter and batteries to run your house ("off grid") it must be not connected to the grid, meaning: to be on the safe side you should "isolate" this system with a change over, the same way as you would do with a fuel generator.
or, you make sure that the systems configuration is safe not to feed or run "in parallel" with the grid. and this is not as easy (or possible) with the equipment they want to sell, as the guys here tell you.
but what to expect? most of them have no clue what they are selling. the reason why they say that "no permission is needed" is that from Kibtek and the ministry side the "regulations for installing (solar) AC battery systems" are not given (or ready).
reason: it is not that easy, both politically and also technically, eg "which standart an automatic change over switch must follow?" aso.
most of those systems are guerilla systems, and many are (sort of) dangerous.
but, the usual: to plan and install a system which certainly does not need a permission, equipped with good panels, inverters, chargers and batteries, may cost a bit more.