Solar panels at Lidl? Plug-in versions set to appear in shops

In Germany, where Lidl is originally from, you can already order them online in their store. This is a variety for your balcony: https://www.lidl.de/p/vale-gmbh-balkonkraftwerk-ecoflow-860-...

Product Features:

- Name: VALE MiniPV 880-EF8N

- Control: Free App

- Communication: WiFi 2.4 GHz

- Performance: max. 800 W

- Tension: approx. 230 V

- Frequency: 50 Hz

- Power supply: Solar inputs: up to 60 V, mains current 230 V

- Protection rating: IP67

- Material: Solar modules: glass and aluminium frame

- Inverter: Cast aluminium

- Dimensions: approx. L 172.2 x W 113.4 x H 3 cm (per solar module) approx. L 25,3 x W 22.2 x H 3.5 cm (inverter)

- Weight: approx. 56 kg

- Scope of delivery: 2 x Premium solar panels, each 440WP, Black, Bifazial; 1 x Premium inverter 800 Watt with WiFi; 1 x connection cable (5 m), safety plug; Quick start guide

Every installed PV-panel is a dozen barrels of oil (eq.) less CO2 in the atmosphere. Plus, so much fun to generate your own power! Can highly recommend it, even starting small.

It's addictive though. Living in the center of the city (The Hague, NL), with a home battery, I'm now 100% self-sufficient electrically for 10 months of the year.

For anyone curious, it appears that quality/output varies widely. Here's a video review of some smaller panels by Project Farm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVkJKCoRATs

We legalized these in Belgium last year.

I bought a 1600Wc + 1.9KWh kit (Ecoflow Stream) for +/- 1300€ last summer. It took us about 2h to install (we had to setup a new plug outside), and I already saved 200€+ since July. I am expecting to save about 350€ per year.

Also, as u/jstch said, it's extremely fun to setup and generate your own power!

Last time I bought a panel from Lidl, it worked only on very sunny day. Very Strange.

Inspection revealed it had two 6 Volt 10 Watt panels in parallel and then 12V to 5V USB-converter.

When panels were reconnected in series it was quite OK.

Man, I'd buy these in a heartbeat if our local Cyprus regulations allowed for these. Participating in green transition as an immigrant renter sucks.

Any dangers from plugging this in to a socket?

Does it need its own earth? Will it switch off if it detects a residual current? Can it handle spikes in load?

I tried to set up Bluetti solar panel on my balcony in a similar way, but the efficiency was abysmal because of the angle to the sun.

I wonder for how many people it will work in practice?

Putting panels on the roof should be much more efficient…

I have one on my balcony. 400 Euros and it saves me 10% of my energy bill.

works well and is probably now refinanced.

How is this handled in your country? We're talking only about solar panels which plugs directly into your main.

Because here, small country in EU, this is not allowed since it would mean ridiculous investment into electric infrastructure.

It's heavily regulated and you need special electric meter, license, etc. and still price of electricity is negative in certain times during the day, because everyone who could, got their solar power plant from EU subsidies.

I've been seeing headlines of this sort last few weeks. It points to Europe preparing for the next time the Hormuz is blocked off. But are there actual actions taken beyond those that save 10 percent on an apartment's electricity bills? Are there large scale mitigation measures that would actually soften the impact of another energy shortage in a serious way?

I don't mean this lightly: you absolutely can not trust the average Brit to safely install these on a balcony.

If they think they can get an ounce more sunshine, they'll hang it over the edge, badly

Why do Europeans need permission from their governors to buy solar panels? I bet you also need to pay taxes on the energy you generate even though you alleviate the infrastructure need.