The PVmover® provides approximately 30% more electricity yield than optimally south-facing fixed-mounted PV modules and nearly 50% more than PV modules in an east-west arrangement.
In Germany the PVmover can usually be installed without a building permit and is a highly economical alternative to a PV system on the roof.
Short delivery time - currently around three months from order placement.
The PVmover comes in three versions:
The PV system is electronically tracked throughout the day based on the astronomical position of the sun. Thus, a maximum of solar energy is harvested. The system control closes the PVmover as soon as the wind speed measured by the installed anemometer exceeds a limit value - on the ground usually at more than 55 km/h and on the roof above 25 km/h.
In almost all federal states in Germany, the following applies: solar systems on or at the house or on the garage or carport can be erected without a building permit or building notification. Exceptions sometimes apply on high-rise buildings. Furthermore, a PVmover 18 can usually be erected on the ground without any building procedure because it is less than 3 m high and less than 9 m wide. Similarly, two PVmovers 8 or one PVm18 and one PVm8 can be erected on the ground. However, two PVm18s or one PVm18 mast will then require a permit.
The responsibility for the permissibility of the PVmover under building law in individual cases lies with the customer. Furthermore, a PV system must be registered with the local grid operator by the electrician erecting it. And the customer must register the system with the market master data register.
THe PVmover is delivered in lightweight components, like Ikea furniture. Only the steel poles for PVm18 mast in parking lots and their substructure are heavier, so the PVmover mast is erected with a mobile crane. The ground anchors can be screwed into the ground with a hand tool and can withstand tensile loads of more than one ton per anchor. The teams of our distributors or our own teams can regularly complete the installation including ground anchor assembly within one day.
In the following cases, conventional PV systems on the roof are mostly ruled out:
However, even if a roof is basically available, the PVmover can be the economically better alternative: Due to the dual-axis tracking, our PV trackers are equivalent to much larger permanently installed systems; for example, the PVm18 is equivalent to a 5-KWp system. PV systems usually have to be laboriously installed on existing buildings using scaffolding for reasons of work safety. Sawing out tiles or roof stones costs a lot of time, and leaks in the roof must be avoided at all costs. The installation of a PV mover is often much easier and cheaper.
What are the advantages of a PV system on the ground?
The PVmover can be set up quickly and in a standardized manner using ground anchors. This has the advantage that no foundation has to be poured and the installation team, without waiting for the concrete to harden, can proceed directly with the installation of the system. The ground anchors can withstand very high tensile loads. The installation is easily accessible if you ever want to clean the modules. After the long service life, the ground anchors can be removed again without leaving any residue.
Can the PVmover also be installed on garage, carports or containers?
This is usually possible. Often it is recommended to put two double-T galvanized steel beams on the carport, garage or container and attach them to the top of the sides.
Can the PVmover be installed on the roof?
SunOyster Systems has had wind tunnel tests performed to determine the exact wind loads at different installation locations and especially on the roof. Due to the flat protective position, the wind loads of the PVmover are limited and roof installation is possible. Send us an email if you would like to know more about installation options on the roof.
What is the cost of a PVmover?
The PVmover is a very economical and competitive solution. It results from the extra yield thanks to tracking and the easy and fast installation. Usually a PVmover is set up within one day. If you give us the object address, we or our local specialized partner will send you a complete offer.
Do I have to pay sales tax on the PVmover?
In Germany through the Annual Tax Act (Section 12 (3) UStG), the legislature has largely provided small PV systems with a VAT rate of 0. This means that PVmovers can also be purchased for electricity generation without paying VAT in principle. This also applies to associated installation services and to an electric battery. This ultimately means a price reduction of 19 percent for private customers!
Do I get a feed-in tariff for electricity fed into the grid?
In Germany for small PV systems on the building, one gets a modest feed-in tariff of currently effectively 8.2 euro cents per kWh. This decreases for larger systems. Of course, this is not much compared to the savings of buying electricity (currently mostly around 50 euro cents per kWh of electricity) or gas (e.g. 15 euro cents per kWh of gas). Therefore, it may be worthwhile to temporarily store the solar electricity in batteries or to use it to heat one's own heat storage tank by means of a heating rod.
For small PV systems on the ground up to 20 kWp, there should also be a feed-in tariff if a PV system on the roof is not possible. However, the federal government still has to issue an implementing regulation for this.
Do I have to pay income tax on payments for solar electricity?
Here, too, a distinction must be made between plants on the ground and plants on buildings:
In Germany for plants on the ground, the income from electricity generation is generally subject to income tax. However, there is now an exception for systems up to 10 kWp: The Federal Ministry of Finance created a simplification rule for small photovoltaic systems in its letter dated October 29, 2021 (GZ IV C 6 - S 2240/19/10006 :006, DOK 2021/1117804). According to this, the tax office assumes without further examination that there is a hobby business that is irrelevant for income tax purposes if the operator declares in writing that he wishes to make use of the simplification rule and meets the requirements for this. The declaration is also effective for subsequent years. If you make use of the simplification rule, the otherwise possibly required, time-consuming forecast calculation is no longer necessary and you no longer have to prepare a profit determination - even for already existing installations. See in more detail
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As a result of the Annual Tax Act, investments related to the building are largely exempt from income tax. Specifically, under Section 3 No. 72 of the German Income Tax Act (EStG), the following applies:
"Income and withdrawals in connection with the operation of.
a) of photovoltaic systems existing on, at or in single-family houses (including outbuildings) or buildings not serving residential purposes with an installed gross capacity of up to 30 kW (peak) according to the market master data register, and
b) photovoltaic systems on, at or in other buildings with an installed gross capacity of up to 15 kW (peak) per residential or commercial unit according to the market master data register,
a total of no more than 100 kW (peak) per taxpayer or co-entrepreneur. If income is generated pursuant to Section 2(1), first sentence, number 2, and if the total income generated from this activity is tax-exempt pursuant to sentence 1, no profit shall be determined."
In practice, this means that almost all smaller solar installations are tax-exempt and no profit is to be determined; in contrast to open land, there is no option here.
However, in both cases, i.e. when installed on land or buildings, further taxes can be saved to a limited extent: If the work services are shown separately in the invoice - as SunOyster Systems does - then up to 20% of the amount can be deducted from the tax as craftsman services. In detail, § 35a paragraph 3 EStG regulates:
"For the use of craftsman services for renovation, maintenance and modernization measures, the standard income tax, reduced by the other tax reductions, is reduced on application by 20 percent of the taxpayer's expenses, but by a maximum of 1,200 euros. This does not apply to publicly funded measures for which low-interest loans or tax-free grants are used."
Do I get funding?
In Germany a subsidy for PV systems in the broader sense is the feed-in tariff (see above). In addition, the reduction of sales tax to zero is tantamount to a subsidy (see question on sales tax). In addition, photovoltaics is generally so highly economical (see question below) that no subsidy is needed - any subsidy would be a waste of taxpayers' money.
How economical is the PVmover?
The profitability of the PVmover with its respective price including transport, substructure and installation depends mainly on two factors: How much electricity can the PVm generate at the respective location and what is the value of this electricity? The electricity production at an unshaded location in Germany is around 2,000 to 2,400 kWh for the PVm8 and around 5,000 to 6,000 kWh for the PVm18. If the PVm is shaded, appropriate deductions must be made. As far as you consume this electricity yourself, you currently save 40 or 50 cents or even more per kilowatt hour of electricity consumption. On the other hand, there is at best little remuneration for feeding electricity into the grid, so it may be worthwhile to increase your own consumption with the help of a small battery (see FAQ on batteries), to optimize consumption by charging electric vehicles, for example, or to use heating rods to feed the electricity into your own heat storage system. The payback period for a PVmover (without or with battery) without debt capital typically ranges from 4 to 10 years; when debt capital is used, the payback period often drops to 1.5 to 3 years.
Do you also sell an electric battery and is it worth it?
We also offer batteries, because this is often worthwhile to store the electrical energy.
What is the lifetime of a PVmover and does the PVmover need maintenance?
The service life is designed for at least 20 years. Almost all components are maintenance-free. For the few exceptions, such as the backup battery, we aim for a scheduled maintenance interval of 5 years for the PVmover - much less frequently than for your car or heating system. Then the maintenance should cost around 300 euros per system.
Does the PVmover need to be cleaned?
Over time, dirt can build up on the PVmover's modules and its backside - just like on all conventional PV modules. Because of the PVmover's tilted resting position, rain washes most of the dirt off the modules. However, to optimize yield by a few percentage points, the PVmover can be cleaned occasionally - for example, twice a year. This basically works like cleaning a window: So it's best to first spray it with a soft jet (not a high-pressure cleaner) to remove coarse dirt. Then rub with a soft brush and mild cleaning agent, especially in the area of the lower PV module edges. Finally, wipe off with a soft rubber lip to avoid lime marks from the water used.
What is the PV Mover's own electricity demand?
Low - below 10 kWh per year. In the case of PVm18, this is less than 0.2 percent of the electricity generated.
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