The largest supplier of energy hangs in the sky and is called the sun! We explain how you can use solar systems for the garden and where the difference between photovoltaics and solar thermal energy is.
The home garden is now something like an outdoor living room. Quasi retreat, wellness and relaxation area as well as space for leisure activities all in one. That's why gardens today are equipped with plenty of technology so that you feel as comfortable in the green oasis as you do in your own four walls. But all this technology must of course also be supplied with electricity. After all, the garden shed that requires electricity is usually not connected to the public power grid. And so the refrigerator, stove, television, electric heaters and the like cannot be used in it. And the garden shed lighting doesn't look good either.
The same applies to garden lighting, pond pumps, lawn mowers and many other garden tools. After all, these must also be supplied with power via a cable. This is very cumbersome if you ask me though. Because if you have to lay the cable through the whole garden, you will quickly find a veritable tangle of cables with umpteen tripping hazards or have to dig up half the garden. In order to reduce this circumstance, it can be worth thinking about a solar system in the garden.
But be careful! Don't confuse solar thermal systems with so-called photovoltaic systems. Although they are both commonly referred to as solar systems because they convert solar energy into another form of energy, their areas of application are completely different. To shed some light on the darkness, we would like to explain the differences to you in more detail here.
Difference between solar thermal & photovoltaic systems
In order to supply garden tools, lighting and the entire garden shed with electricity, you need a solar system that enables you to use solar energy where it is needed. Solar thermal and photovoltaic systems may both meet this point. However, the solar energy is used completely differently in these two systems.
❍Photovoltaic systems:
Photovoltaic systems use solar radiation to generate electricity. The conversion of solar energy takes place in the so-called solar modules. The solar power produced is then initially direct current, which has to be converted into alternating current via an inverter. You can then use all of the electricity for your own use or feed all or part of it into the public grid. This in turn has a great advantage: If you feed the electricity into the public grid, this will be remunerated according to the guidelines of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) and thus improve your household budget a little.
The special thing about photovoltaic systems: By installing a power-to-heat system (P2H), excess solar power can also be used to generate heat (e.g. for hot water or heating). With a so-called photovoltaic heating element, excess solar power is not fed into the grid but stored in the form of heat. However, the power-to-heat system only works in times of excess electricity. It is therefore merely an addition to the existing heating system. This system is therefore not worthwhile if your photovoltaic system hardly generates any excess electricity.
Tip for the purchase: Lease instead of purchase!
Instead of buying the photovoltaic system in one fell swoop and having to pay for it, there is now also the option of leasing it . With established providers such as Yello Solar GmbH, for example, you can lease the solar system on a monthly basis, use the electricity you generate yourself and pay little more than the usual discount for it. This ensures that electricity costs can be planned in the long term. Maintenance and repairs are also included. Thanks to the lease, you get a real all-round carefree package.
❍ Solar thermal systems:
Solar thermal systems do not use solar energy to generate electricity, but heat. You can then use this for heating or hot water, for example. No solar modules are required for this, but so-called solar collectors. Although these look very similar to solar modules, they work differently. In contrast to photovoltaic modules, there is a liquid in the solar collectors (consists mainly of water and antifreeze), which is heated by the sun and then transported to the boiler room with the help of a pump to support hot water preparation or heating. With the help of a heat exchanger, you can then heat fresh water or the water for theUse space heating.
Advantages & disadvantages of solar thermal & photovoltaic systems
| Photovoltaic system | Solar thermal system | |
|---|---|---|
| Advantages | ✔ Saves electricity costs ✔ Remuneration for feeding the energy into the public grid ✔ Excess solar power can be used to generate heat (hot water and heating) ✔ Battery storage can accumulate generated electricity ✔ the winter months account for only about 30% of the annual output ✔ payback period is 10-14 years on average | ✔ Saves heating costs ✔ Efficiency is 90% ✔ Can be used to support heating or for hot water preparation ✔ Can be combined with a water-bearing fireplace ✔ Energy can be stored by buffer storage (heating) and/or hygiene storage (service water) |
| Cons | ✘ Efficiency is 20% ✘ Severely reduced performance in bad weather ✘ Inverter consumes energy | ✘For own use only ✘ Reduction of the output in winter to 20 - 30% compared to the summer months ➥ Solar heating can only be used for support in winter ✘ usually only pays for itself after 15-20 years |
Mobile solar systems for the garden
If you don't need constant electricity in your garden at place X or Y, but don't want to lay any cables, you can also simply use mobile solar systems. They are not intended for permanent attachment and can therefore be taken anywhere. For example for camping or when traveling with the mobile home. For example, mini solar panels, foldable solar modules (both for direct use / cannot store the electricity) and solar power banks (store the electricity) are currently available. For example, if you want to charge your mobile phone or listen to music while you are lying by the pool, you simply have to place the mobile solar systems mentioned in the sun and you can use the electricity. This is not only practical, you can also save electricity when using it in the garden.
Conclusion:
If you want to supply your garden with electricity, then you are well advised to use a photovoltaic system. It converts solar radiation into electricity and makes it available for use in the garden and garden shed. So you can easily power lawn mowers, pond pumps, garden lights and all electrical devices in the garden shed.