Another solar station test? Yes, we're preparing for the return of the sun, and given the rising electricity prices, this type of solution is very much appreciated! Even more so when the solution in question is designed by a solar expert, in this case Solaris Store, which I already mentioned for making my cabin in the woods self-sufficient in electricity. Solaris Store has been known for 20 years for its portable solar solutions and the autonomy of isolated buildings, in particular. Having spoken with them when I had my cabin installed, I can say that they are true professionals, who know the subject and the equipment inside and out. So when they offered me the chance to test their new Solaris Go solar station, I couldn't resist! Introducing the Solaris Go solar stationIt's almost become a habit: delivery of a pallet by carrier. And yes, we have here a 172 x 113 cm photovoltaic panel, weighing around 30 kilos.
Even though the plastic film suffered a little during shipping, the station is perfectly wedged and strapped onto its pallet. Everything arrived in perfect condition.
As you can see at first glance, this is a “classic” solar panel, meaning it's single-sided, unlike other solutions that are beginning to become more widespread, bifacial. It's a choice; both types have their advantages.
This is a 410W photovoltaic panel from JA Solar, a well-known Chinese manufacturer in the field. The model in question is composed of 108 PERC monocrystalline half-cells. The half-cell configuration of the modules offers the advantages of higher output power, better performance over temperature, reduced shading on energy production, a lower risk of hot spots, and greater tolerance to mechanical loads. To support it, there's a microinverter from ApSystem, model EZ1-M, which is a change from the usual Hoymiles. This latter manufacturer is very good, but ApSystem is more used by professionals in the field. And this model in particular is very interesting for a solar station, since it directly integrates a Wi-Fi connection to monitor production. No need to add a smart plug or create a dedicated app; you can directly use the information and the microinverter manufacturer's app!
The Solaris Go station arrives fully assembled, and the microinverter is, of course, already connected to the panel. Note, however, the availability of two additional free MC4 connectors, allowing you to connect a second panel without having to replace a microinverter. This is probably why the two-panel version of this station costs less than two Go stations. The same principle was also used at Sunethic, for example.
The panel is mounted on a 4mm-thick aluminum structure, secured with A2 stainless steel screws.
The finish and assembly are perfect. It may seem “rough” compared to other models, but this material has proven itself over time and won't bend at the first strong gust of wind. It's solid!
Let's move on to installation. Installing the Solaris Go Solar Station Plug&Play solar stations have now proven their ease of installation. And this Solaris Go is no exception: it's very easy to install.
There are only two wing nuts to tighten to hold the two rear profiles in place:
This creates a triangular support at the back of the panel:
Place the panel on the ground and simply connect the power cable to the microinverter at the back of the panel:
Plug the other end into a 230V outlet, and that's it: from now on, the Solaris Go station begins producing electricity, which is fed directly into your home, thus reducing your electricity bill!
The panel will automatically tilt at 35°, which is an intermediate tilt suitable for all seasons. This is one of the specific features of this model: the support's tilt isn't adjustable. This was a deliberate choice by Solaris Store, as in practice, it turns out that few people actually adjust the tilt every season. This argument holds true, since once installed, we tend to forget about these panels, which take care of themselves.
The support, however, is designed to accommodate ballast to keep it firmly on the ground, especially in windy conditions.
The aluminum rails on the ground allow you to install stone slabs or concrete blocks, for example. 40cm square concrete patio slabs work very well (four slabs are easily found in any hardware store, and they're perfect).
The only challenge is finding a spot with the best sun exposure, preferably facing south, to enjoy the longest possible sunshine, with a power outlet not too far away (up to 5m, but optional extension cords are available for 10 or 15m). The panel can be installed on a patio or lawn without any problem.
The APSystems AP EasyPower mobile app
This Solaris Go station comes with a mobile app to track its solar production. Whether on iOS or Android, simply install it and create a user account.
Request the addition of a new device by standing near the station, which is automatically detected by Bluetooth.
Configure the Wi-Fi, specifying the network to use and its password. And our solar station is connected! After a few seconds, we begin receiving the first data from our Solaris Go station.
The advantage here is that it's the inverter manufacturer's app, which is of course best suited to properly exploit its data. This gives us instant production, with details for the day, as well as statistics for the week, month, or even year.
It's comprehensive, visual, and well-adapted, unlike Tuya smart plugs, which generally offer a very concise interface that isn't suited for this purpose.
This time, the installation is completely complete. Of course, the station works perfectly even without the app, since from the moment you plug the cable into a power outlet, the station starts working. But the app allows you to track your solar production to see how much free electricity it produces :)
Solaris Go: How does it work?
It's legitimate to wonder about the risks of connecting an additional energy source to an existing electrical installation! Here's the explanation.
The operating principle is based on a fundamental law of physics: electrons always follow the most direct path. Solar panels transform sunlight into electrons, which are then directed into the household circuit by the inverter, synchronized with the grid. These electrons primarily provide the necessary energy to the electrical appliances that are running and those closest to them. Using an electron produced by your solar panels means saving an electron on the grid.
At the heart of the system, the inverter plays a crucial role by matching the frequency of the electrical grid. This requires the use of an electronic meter. If your meter is still an older generation, don't worry: Enedis will replace it when you register your solar system, because in France, operating solar panels with obsolete meters is prohibited. Indeed, overproduction could lead to an excessive drop in your electricity bill. This operation implies another thing: during a power outage, the solar system shuts down, as it must be connected to the grid to operate. This limitation prevents the danger of electrocution when handling the installations.
The goal is not to cover your entire daily energy consumption, which would require a larger and more expensive system. Rather, the goal is to reduce your basic consumption, or “electrical tail,” which represents the energy continuously consumed by appliances such as the refrigerator, internet box, or home automation systems, and which typically amounts to around 400 watts. The Solaris Go system is designed to compensate for this basic consumption. For those with a higher electrical tail, it is possible to install additional Solaris Go units.
And what about the regulations?
The major advantage of the Solaris Go solar station lies in its ease of installation, which does not require complex administrative procedures. For panels installed on the ground or at a height of less than 1.80 meters, no municipal declaration is required.
The only administrative step is to notify Enedis, the electricity distribution network operator, of the installation via a simplified online process accessible at https://connect-racco.enedis.fr/prac-internet/login/.
This procedure, which does not require any physical intervention from Enedis, is essentially a legal formality and can be completed in less than 10 minutes. Solaris Store provides the necessary information here.
The big question: cost-effectiveness
The question that always comes up regarding this type of solution is cost-effectiveness. Because the Solaris Go station still costs €599. We still hear far too many people saying it's not profitable! Quite the opposite, in fact. For the calculations, I'm going to use the completely independent website
Photovoltaic Geographical Information System
, because January's production is really not representative of what this station can produce. I'm based near Orléans, and this tool gives me an average production of 455 kWh per year.
As you can see, December and January are not at all representative of annual production….
At a rate of €0.27 per kWh (EDF's peak rate following the February 1st increase), this represents a saving of nearly €123 per year.
Let's not forget the increase in the cost of electricity each year. We are among the cheapest countries in Europe, but the price of electricity in France should catch up with the average for European countries. And we know that the tariff shield is due to disappear by the end of 2024. , even though we've apparently been promised that there will only be one increase this year, starting on February 1st. Remaining optimistic, we can consider a 5% increase per year (a minimum in my opinion):(2024) the savings in the first year would be €123
(2025) second year: €129
(2026) third year: €135 (2027) fourth year: €142This gives us a total of €530, which is the kit's payback period after only four and a half years in my case. In the south with a full southern exposure, where production will be even better, the return on investment will be even faster. With the increase in electricity prices in recent years, the return on investment of such a solution has melted like snow in the sun, almost halving it. A return on investment over three to five years is therefore very attractive. Especially since the panels are guaranteed to maintain 80% production after 25 years.
Note: we assume here that we consume all of our production, provided we properly size our solar installation. The goal here is to eliminate our electrical tail, not to be completely self-sufficient. If we size the number of solar stations to cover the electrical tail, we should normally consume 100% of their production, which improves profitability.Note that many local authorities offer financial assistance for the purchase of self-consumption “Plug and Play” solar panel kits in various forms. The Solaris GO solar panel is particularly eligible for this assistance, for example:
The Pays de L'Arbresle community of municipalitiessubsidizes up to €150 per household for the purchase of a self-installed solar panel (Plug and Play).This very attractive grant allows for even faster payback. So don't hesitate to contact your local authority for more information!
Solaris Go and home automation… There's no Hoymiles inverter here, so it's not compatible with OpenDTU. However, as APSystems is a well-known manufacturer in the field, there are ready-made integrations. There's a plugin on Jeedom (still in beta) to retrieve all production information directly into the home automation system! Be careful, however: you must enable local mode, which then prevents you from accessing the information remotely in the application.Solaris Go therefore proves to be a very easy solution to integrate into a home automation solution for those who want to go further (to activate certain devices during production peaks, for example). Of course, this is completely optional and reserved for those who want to go all the way ;-)
Conclusion
- Many companies have launched into the solar station business in recent years. There's a bit of everything in the field, some good and some not-so-good. But by contacting a solar specialist like Solaris Store, you can ensure a properly sized, high-quality product with excellent customer service. And that can make a big difference!
- The
- Solaris Go station
- is priced at €599 on the official store, but you can get it
for just €569
with our exclusive code MAISONETDOMOTIQUE, making it one of the least expensive solutions (or €949 for the 800W station instead of €999, if your electricity needs are higher).
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