Solar stations are of great interest to many people because they allow them to instantly reduce their electricity bills by simply plugging a solar panel into an electrical outlet. It's true that with rising electricity prices, everyone is looking to reduce their bills. But until now, this was reserved for residents of houses with gardens. Good news: Sunology City is a new version specially designed for apartment balconies. Sunology City: solar panels designed for balconies Until now, solar stations available in France were too bulky for balconies and too heavy to be attached to a railing. Sunology City solves this problem by offering a solution specifically designed for balconies. This new solution consists of three photovoltaic panels, each weighing 4 kg, and measuring 115 cm high by 68 cm wide. Each panel, finished in “full black” for aesthetics, has a power output of 150Wp, providing a total power output of 450Wp for the complete solution. The panels are guaranteed for 15 years, and their performance is guaranteed at 80% after 25 years. The Sunology City solution is equipped with a 400W microinverter, with an MPPT efficiency of 99.8%, guaranteed for 25 years.
In addition to the use of three lightweight panels, the unique feature of this solution is its mounting system: the panels are attached to a black-lacquered aluminum “slide” frame, allowing them to be oriented. Indeed, for optimal operation, photovoltaic panels must be placed perpendicular to the sun's rays. A panel lying flat on a balcony railing is therefore not optimal. The system developed by Sunology allows the panels to be correctly oriented for optimal electricity production.
As with the Sunology Play station
The Sunology City solution, which we tested, requires no work and installs in minutes, thanks to hook-and-loop fasteners guaranteed to resist moisture and UV rays for 20 years.
Depending on the configuration of the railing, the panels can be installed either horizontally or vertically.
The micro-inverter simply plugs into an electrical outlet. A smart plug is also included so you can monitor your solar production on your smartphone.
Sunology City Solar Station: How Does It Work?
If you're new to this type of self-consumption station, you might be wondering how it works? Solar panels that plug directly into an electrical outlet? Doesn't plugging a power source into an outlet that's already powered risk tripping the meter? Etc. An electrical outlet works both ways. When you plug your toaster into the outlet, you draw power. If you plug a solar panel into the same outlet, the current flows back the other way to your meter. If it encounters a device that consumes energy along the way, it will offset it in whole or in part. If you produce more than you consume, the surplus will benefit your nearest neighbors. Sunology
In fact, the system works based on two things.
First, the inverter synchronizes with the electrical grid to operate. Therefore, it won't work in the event of a power outage, and it can't operate in a remote location that isn't connected to the electrical grid. On the other hand, this also prevents electrocution if you touch the kit's plug: as long as it isn't synchronized with a mains outlet, no current flows. So, there's no risk for children either.
Next, the system relies on a simple rule of physics: electrons take the shortest path. Like any fluid, in fact.
In practice, solar panels capture the sun's rays and transform the photons into electrons. The inverter, synchronized to the electrical grid, injects the solar electrons into the home's electrical circuit. The solar electrons diffuse and power the nearest electrical appliances that are consuming electricity at the same time. Thus, for each solar electron produced and consumed by a home appliance, an electron from the electrical grid bypasses the meter and is therefore not billed.
This short animation perfectly illustrates the principle:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/2rN4gia-kSg
The goal isn't to produce as much electricity as we consume each day, since that would require a much larger and more expensive installation, impossible to install in an apartment. The goal is to eliminate your home's “electrical bottom line.” The electrical bottom line is your home's minimum electricity consumption, which is present no matter what, even when no one is home. It corresponds to the consumption of the refrigerator, internet box, home automation box, VMC (ventilation ventilation), appliances on standby, etc. If you don't turn on any specific appliances, and you take a look at your electric meter, you'll see that it still displays an electricity consumption that easily reaches 300W in general. The consumption bottom line represents 10 to 20% of your annual energy needs, or between 300 and 1500 kWh per year! This is the consumption we're trying to eliminate with the Sunology City solar station.
And what about the regulations?
The strong point of the Sunology City solar station is that it can be installed anywhere, without complicated formalities, since it's a mobile installation, requiring no work, and can be dismantled in 5 minutes if necessary.
You'll simply need to confirm the possibility of installing it with the condominium management company, some of which are sometimes very strict about the appearance of facades.
The only formality to complete is to sign a Self-Consumption Agreement Without Injection (CACSI) with Enedis, the company that manages the electricity grid. The declaration is made directly online at https://connect-racco.enedis.fr/prac-internet/login/. The declaration takes less than 10 minutes, with the manufacturer providing all the necessary information on its website.
Obviously, this is the first question that comes up every time: what about profitability? Because the Sunology City solar station still costs €599. Of course, the geographical location has a significant impact, since in the Var region it's possible to generate up to 714 kWh/year, compared to 451 kWh/year in the Nord region. This is a significant difference, which will obviously be reflected in profitability. However, the manufacturer indicates a payback period of between 4 and 6 years. This period should be further shortened given the upcoming electricity rate increases.
Conclusion
Sunology offers a solution that many have been waiting for: the ability to install solar panels when living in an apartment! Saving electricity is now within everyone's reach! It's worth noting that Sunology City isn't just for city apartments. The panels can also be installed on the railing of a house's terrace.
The French manufacturer has built a very good reputation with its Sunology Play solution. It showcases the quality, ingenuity, and versatility that have made it so successful. There's no doubt Sunology City will quickly gain many fans!
Some will undoubtedly shout about the ecology, but the panel manufacturing and recycling process has evolved considerably in 10 years. Most panels are now certified low carbon: after one year of use, the energy required for their manufacture has been offset. As for recycling, this panel is 95% recyclable. And things will have evolved even further by the time it's finally disposed of, with the manufacturer stating its lifespan at 25 years. But in reality, a photovoltaic panel has an enormous lifespan, and even if its production declines over time (80% efficiency guaranteed after 25 years), a panel can still be used for many years beyond its official lifespan. I know people who use 40-year-old panels that still work perfectly, even though the technology was far inferior to today's. In short, this is a solution that should interest people. Sunology City is available to order now, with delivery within 60 days. Note that our exclusive code SUN_MAISONDOMOTIQUE allows you to get a 5% discount on the price, bringing the price down to only €569. Payment in 4 or 10 installments is also possible.
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