Many homeowners in Hanover and the surrounding area already have a photovoltaic system on their roof, yet they feed a large portion of their solar energy into the grid for relatively little compensation instead of using it themselves. This raises an important question: Should I retrofit a solar battery storage system?<\/p>\n
In this guide, you’ll learn, honestly and without sales pressure, what retrofitting a battery storage system costs, which technologies are available, and whether the investment makes financial sense for you.<\/p>\n
Anyone who only uses electricity when the sun is shining is leaving potential untapped.<\/p>\n
During the day, when a PV system generates the most electricity, many homeowners are away from home. The surplus electricity is exported to the grid, and the feed-in tariff for new systems is now only around \u20ac0.08 per kilowatt-hour, while electricity purchased from the grid in the evening costs significantly more.<\/p>\n
A battery storage system reverses this equation. It stores surplus energy generated at midday and makes it available again during the evening and at night. This allows you to consume a much larger share of your self-generated electricity, making battery retrofitting an attractive option for many system owners.<\/p>\n
The good news is that, in the vast majority of cases, a battery storage system can be added without difficulty.<\/p>\n
Storage Capacity<\/strong><\/td>\n| Typical Application<\/strong><\/td>\n | Approximate Price (including installation)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Approx. 5 kWh<\/td>\n | Small household, basic demand<\/td>\n | \u20ac4,000\u2013\u20ac6,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Approx. 8\u201310 kWh<\/td>\n | Average single-family home<\/td>\n | \u20ac6,000\u2013\u20ac9,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Approx. 12\u201315 kWh<\/td>\n | High consumption, heat pump and\/or EV charger<\/td>\n | \u20ac9,000\u2013\u20ac13,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Backup power function<\/td>\n | Optional upgrade<\/td>\n | +\u20ac500\u2013\u20ac1,500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n | These figures are intended as guidelines only.<\/p>\n The exact price depends on the coupling method, installation complexity, and the components selected.<\/p>\n One clear advantage is that Germany’s 0% VAT rate for photovoltaic systems and associated battery storage systems remains in effect, meaning no value-added tax applies.<\/p>\n Increasing Self-Consumption: The Real Objective<\/h2>\nThe primary reason for retrofitting battery storage is simple: to increase self-consumption.<\/p>\n Without storage, the self-consumption rate of a typical PV system is often only 25\u201335%. With a properly sized battery, this figure frequently rises to 60\u201380%.<\/p>\n What does this mean in practice?<\/p>\n Every kilowatt-hour you consume yourself replaces expensive grid electricity. Instead of receiving approximately \u20ac0.08 in feed-in compensation, you avoid paying electricity prices that often exceed \u20ac0.30 per kilowatt-hour.<\/p>\n Over the battery’s lifespan, this difference adds up substantially.<\/p>\n An AI-controlled storage system, such as those offered by PVPro Solar, can optimize this effect even further by automatically adjusting charging and discharging times according to consumption patterns and electricity tariffs.<\/p>\n AC or DC: Which Coupling Method Is Right for You?<\/h2>\nThere are two fundamental approaches to retrofitting battery storage:<\/p>\n AC Coupling<\/h3>\nThe battery is equipped with its own battery inverter and integrated on the AC side of the system.<\/p>\n Advantages:<\/p>\n
|