Solar/photovoltaic self-consumption systems are a favorable alternative to conventional energy suppliers on Mallorca thanks to new technology and relaxed legal regulations.
In the past, property owners in Mallorca usually avoided the topic of solar energy. Installation and technology were too complex and expensive, and legal requirements and regulations were too complicated and bureaucratic.
Whoever wanted to use solar energy to generate their own electricity on the island previously had to choose between „completely“ or „not at all“. In other words: It was not possible, or only possible with very great restrictions, to alternate between drawing electricity from the conventional grid of the Balearic electricity supplier Gesa-Endesa or the solar system, depending on requirements. But that is now finally over.
Since the beginning of 2019, a new legal regulation has been in force, according to which dual feed-in is finally possible for property owners,
says Franz Stuckmann, Managing Director of FSB, a company that specializes in the planning and installation of photovoltaic systems on Mallorca, among other things. And legally,
But first things first. Imagine you own an island home in the form of a finca, a detached house or an apartment. You get your electricity from the Gesa-Endesa grid. So far so good. But now you also install a photovoltaic system to cover most of your electricity consumption, for example a system with an output of around 10 kilowatts. You can also call up the same output via Gesa-Endesa. But now comes the revolutionary innovation. By means of an inverter, both power sources are connected to each other.
In practice, it looks like this: The electricity for the heating, air conditioning, pool pump and/or other electrical appliances in the household is generated during the day by the home's own photovoltaic system.
The electricity is therefore free. If the system does not manage to produce its full output due to cloudy skies or at night, the missing electricity is fed into the grid via the Gesa-Endesa line. „So I only pay for the electricity that my own solar system cannot generate in the short term,
says Franz Stuckmann.
This dual system is particularly ideal for owners of vacation homes who only spend part of the year on the island. The photovoltaic system produces electricity every day. Whether someone is at home or not. Using smarthome technology, homeowners can use this free electricity to heat their own four walls even when they are away, thus preventing damp“, says Franz Stuckmann. If you want to pay even less to the conventional electricity supplier, you can also buy modern lithium batteries to store the surplus from your photovoltaic system. However, these batteries are not cheap.
Subsidies for photovoltaic systemsIf you want to have a solar system installed, you have the opportunity this year thanks to new public subsidies. Many municipalities on the island are covering up to 50 percent of the investment costs," says Franz Stuckmann. And what is even better: the so-called „sun tax“ has been abolished since the beginning of 2019. It stipulated that property owners who generated solar energy had to pay taxes for every kilowatt.
But what about the necessary applications to the electricity supplier? „No problem at all“, says Franz Stuckmann. His company recently became an officially licensed electrical company on the Balearic Islands. „We can submit the application for dual feed-in directly to Gesa-Endesa. And, of course, we also take care of the installation of the photovoltaic system and all the technology required for the parallel connection“.
In addition to Franz Stuckmann's company, other companies have specialized in the installation of solar and PV systems on the island.
The company „TriTech-Solar“, based in Inca, offers solar air systems to property owners. In contrast to a „classic“ photovoltaic system, the sun's energy is not used to generate electricity, but to heat the air and water. The fresh air heated by the sun is fed into the living space without any intermediate step. Such solar air collectors can also be integrated into the existing heating system, for example, and thus provide additional heat. Advantages: mold prevention, lower heating costs and a healthy indoor climate.
Everything from a single source: „Balear Haustechnik“The company „Balear Haustechnik“ is also one of the long-standing providers of modern solar self-consumption systems on Mallorca. The highlight here is that a large proportion of the electricity consumed by air conditioning and heating appliances and heat pumps - also offered by the company, which specializes in air conditioning, sanitary, heating, electrical and solar technology - can be covered by the PV systems all year round.
Individual storage systems: „Solar-Islas“
The company „Solar-Islas“ also has many years of experience in the installation of photovoltaic systems on Mallorca. By feeding solar energy directly into the grid, up to 30 percent of their own electricity consumption can be covered. With additional storage systems, which are individually adapted to the electricity requirements of a property, up to 70 percent of a property's own electricity consumption can be covered.
More info -
Franz Stuckmann Balears S.L.
Tel. +34 682 331 893
www.fsb-stuckmann.com
Balear Building Services
Tel. +34 971 68 77 87
www.balear-haustechnik.com
Tritech-Solar
Tel. +34 647 785 393
www.tritech-solar.com
Solar-Islas
Tel. +34 625 01 11 61
www.solar-islas.com
