Balcony power plants are booming: Why your own insurance is essential!

Balcony power plants are booming: Why your own insurance is essential!

In 2024, around 430,000 new balcony power plants were installed in Germany, which corresponds to a significant increase of 62 percent compared to 2023. This boom in the area of ​​mini PV systems represents a cost-effective way to produce electricity independently, as the costs for such systems are often over 1,000 euros. However, many of these systems are inadequately insured, posing potential risks to operators. Comprehensive insurance coverage is therefore essential to avoid financial damage. In this context, the Pfefferminzia website emphasizes that owners should inform their insurance company about the construction of the balcony power plants in order to clarify insurance coverage.

Balcony power plants are generally considered household goods if they are not permanently attached to the building. Damage caused by fire, storms, hail and tap water is usually covered by building insurance. However, many household contents and building insurance policies do not cover all risks. It is therefore recommended that you take out your own insurance for balcony power plants, which in particular also covers damage caused by animal bites, operating errors and theft. According to internal damage statistics, 10% of the damage is caused by marten bites and 30% by overvoltage.

Comprehensive insurance coverage

The protection of a balcony power plant should be carefully thought out. Good insurance that offers comprehensive protection usually costs less than 40 euros per year with a coverage amount of 1,500 euros. These insurance companies should offer all-risk coverage that also protects the important components of the system. The system consists of various main components: solar modules, an inverter, brackets and connections. These components are crucial for independent power generation and should be taken into account as part of the insurance coverage.

Household contents insurance usually protects against natural events, while damage caused by theft and vandalism is often not insured. In addition, it is important to check private liability insurance, as it often also covers damage caused to third parties by the balcony power plant. These insurance details such as scope of coverage and types of damage vary and should be clarified individually with the insurance provider.

Legal aspects and reporting obligations

When installing a balcony power plant, operators must also consider various legal and insurance consequences, especially if they want to sell the electricity generated. There are reporting obligations to the insurance company, the network operator and the Federal Network Agency. Changes to insurance policies may be necessary if operators intend to feed the electricity generated into the grid.

In summary, it can be said that the number of balcony power plants in Germany is increasing rapidly, but the need for good insurance protection is also growing. The insurance should not only cover the common risks, but also take into account the individual circumstances of the respective system. Operators are well advised to obtain comprehensive information and to protect their systems correctly in order to avoid long-term damage and financial losses. Further information can be found on the Solar Experts website, which goes into detail about the details of balcony power plant insurance.