Calculator

Balcony Solar Calculator

Check whether a small plug-in solar system can pay off for your household. The calculator estimates annual yield, direct self-use, exported surplus and payback.

Energy

Inputs

Calculate now

The balcony solar calculator estimates how much electricity a small plug-in solar system generates and how much can be used directly at home when demand occurs at the same time.

Display currencyChoose the currency symbol for entered amounts and results. No exchange-rate conversion is applied.

UnitsChoose metric, US or UK units for distance, area, volume and car consumption.

Module power (Wp)

Enter installed module power. Many balcony solar systems use roughly 600–1,000 Wp of modules.

Site yield level

You do not need to know a specific yield. Choose a rough site quality; the calculator derives annual yield from it.

Household electricity use per year (kWh)

You can find this value on your electricity bill. It limits how much balcony solar electricity can be self-used.

Typical daytime base load (W)

Rough estimate for devices often running during the day: fridge, router, standby, home office. Higher base load usually means more direct self-use.

Optional balcony battery (kWh)

0 means calculate without a battery. A small battery can shift surplus into the evening, but adds cost and only helps when surplus occurs regularly.

Investment cost ($)

Total cost including modules, inverter, mounting and accessories.

Grid electricity price ($/kWh)

This price determines the value of each kWh actually used at the same time or shifted by a battery.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Does balcony solar pay off?

Often yes, if a relevant share of generated electricity meets daytime base load or flexible loads and purchase cost remains moderate.

Why does the calculator not ask for self-use share?

Because that share is the result. The calculator estimates it from yield, household consumption and daytime base load.

What happens to surplus electricity?

Surplus electricity is fed into the grid. For balcony solar, this is often less valuable than direct self-use.

What improves economics?

Using electricity during solar hours, choosing a suitable module size and keeping purchase cost low improve payback.