- Lidl is soon offering a 150W balcony solar panel kit for €199, with an upgradeable Parkside microinverter at its German outlets
- The product arrives in Lidl stores in Germany from May 17, 2023
- It is not yet known if or when the product will be marketed in France.
Lidl is extending its offer by now offering a solution of back-up solar panels, perfect even for (sunny) balconies. Marketed 199 euros in Germanythe kit allows consumers to access renewable energy solutions at a floor price, raises several questions about the quality of the product and the savings that can be made.
The balcony solar panel kit sold by Lidl includes a solar panel with a power of 150 W and a Parkside brand micro-inverter (300 W). The solar panel features an aluminum frame, and is described as durable and weather resistant. Lidl offers a 25-year performance guarantee (80% retained) and a 10-year guarantee on the material and workmanship of the solar panel.
What do the solar panels sold by Lidl look like?
The Parkside microinverter is designed for a maximum power of 300W, allowing a second 150W solar panel to be connected to extend the capacity of the kit. It is also possible to associate a second inverter for a total of 600 W via four panels. This scalability is a strong point of the hard discount brand’s proposal, since it allows consumers to adapt their installation according to their needs and their budget.
However, we are talking here about a very modest power and it is important to check the interest of this type of material in your case. We are indeed talking here about a device that will never supply a hob, an oven, or your water heater – but more of an aid to erase the basic consumption of your home: internet box, VMC, etc
Consumption which is probably not responsible, annually, for amounts similar to the cost of the kit itself and its installation. The Lidl solar panel kit is sold with a special injection plug, in accordance with Germany. However, the installation of this socket must in all cases be carried out by a qualified electrician. A point to take into account when buying this equipment.
For those who still wish to buy the Lidl solar panel kit in France, we have bad news: you will have understood it, for the moment, the product is only available exclusively in Germany. Residents of the country can buy it online or visit a physical store. If you live in a border area or pass a sign of passage in Germany, however, you can try your luck to acquire a kit.
For now, Lidl does not say if or when the product would be available in its stores in France and elsewhere in Europe. The only thing certain is that Lidl Germany is responding to the concerns of many Germans about the re-ignition of coal-fired power plants following the country’s exit from nuclear power and the outbreak of war in Ukraine…
