Solar energy - what could be closer to Mallorca than energy from solar power
?Electricity, hot water, heating or air conditioning. With the help of solar power, residential or commercial properties can now be operated almost independently of conventional energy sources. Photovoltaic technology has made huge progress in recent years, says Gerd Stuckmann, Managing Director of FSB Stuckmann in Ses Salines, a company specializing in solar and smart home technology.
However, for many property owners, photovoltaics for generating electricity or hot water is still a closed book. Can you simply screw a solar panel onto the roof? And what permission is required to feed the energy generated into your own power grid? „Of course, installing a photovoltaic system in new buildings is easier than in the case of existing properties. Here, a plan tailored to the property, its location and room layout can be drawn up for implanting the solar technology before the first sod is turned. Thanks to modern house insulation, the solar system then also works more efficiently," explains Stuckmann. But even a subsequent installation poses no technical problem.
Solar modules - on the roof or on the ground?
Where exactly a solar panel can be installed on the house depends on two main factors in Mallorca. The requirements of the local building authority and the geographical orientation. „In rural areas, many municipalities prohibit the installation of Placas Solares on the roof for aesthetic reasons. In these cases, the solar panels must be attached to the ground. For this reason, you should ask the town hall in advance what the structural requirements are with regard to photovoltaic systems," advises Stuckmann. In order to achieve the greatest possible charging efficiency, the solar modules should always be oriented towards the south, southwest or southeast. If you have a lot of space (and money), you can of course also have pivoting or rotating systems installed that automatically adjust to the course of the sun over the course of the day.
Old buildings with tiled roofs, such as Mallorcan village houses, are hardly able to support larger solar panels due to the thin layer of concrete underneath. „Here, an additional roof foundation must be built beforehand. How much electricity a solar module can supply also depends on its size. „Here, too, it is advisable to consult an expert who can calculate the exact ratio of surface area to power output“, says Stuckmann.
Once everything is installed, you can start feeding the solar power into your home's electricity grid. But hold on! Here, too, various conditions must be met beforehand. The use of solar power via the conventional domestic power grid requires approval from the regional Chamber of Engineers. Only an electrical company officially licensed on the Balearic Islands can submit an application for this," explains Stuckmann. The costs for this vary between a few hundred and a few thousand euros depending on the provider, whereby the cheapest offer is not always the best. And then the regional energy supply company Gesa-Endesa also has a say in private solar power production. Only an officially approved electrical company can apply for the required permit. „This is particularly important because private solar energy producers have been receiving a feed-in tariff for every kilowatt hour since last fall“, says Stuckmann.
3 million euros in subsidies
Speaking of money. The Balearic government is once again subsidizing the installation of photovoltaic systems this year. A total of three million euros has been made available for this purpose. The subsidies are aimed at private households, communities of owners and small and medium-sized enterprises. Both the installation of a photovoltaic system and the purchase of lithium storage systems are subsidized with 50 percent of the costs in the case of private households. Applications can be submitted to the state government until March 28.
Further information is also available at :
FSB Stuckmann:
Solar Islas / Constantin Kletti,
KKPETERS Mallorca:
Balear building services:
