Solar Panels for an Apartment Building: When Is It Worth It and What Needs to Be Arranged?

🔍 Why should an apartment building consider solar panels?

• Lower energy costs – mainly for common areas (lighting, elevators, boiler room...).
• Energy independence – less dependence on market prices.
• A green solution – good for the environment and the building's image.
• Subsidies – contributions can be obtained through programs such as Zelená domácnostiam (Green for Households).

❓ What does an apartment building need to fulfil if it wants solar panels?

1. Obtain the owners' approval

• Approval of at least 2/3 of the owners is required (since it concerns a common part of the building – the roof).
• We recommend doing this in writing or at a meeting.

2. Technical assessment of the roof

• Statics (whether the roof can bear the load),
• Orientation, slope and shading,
• Possibly a simple feasibility study.

3. Decide how the electricity will be used

• Only for common areas? → simpler.
• Or also for individual owners' apartments? → more complex, an energy community is needed.

4. Building and distribution permits

• Small systems up to about 10 kWp often only need to be notified.
• Larger ones require a building permit and a connection agreement with the distribution company.

5. Choosing a supplier and financing

• A good supplier will help you with documentation and permits.
• Financing is possible from the repair fund, through a loan or with the help of subsidies.

⚡ What is an energy community and when do we need it?

If the building wants to distribute the generated electricity to the apartments as well, it is necessary to establish an energy community (EC) – a special legal entity that allows you to:

• distribute the generated energy among members (e.g. apartments),
• use a shared battery,
• obtain more favourable conditions (including legislative ones). Without an EC, the building can only use the electricity for common areas. Any surplus it does not use goes to the grid without compensation – unless a buy-back has been agreed.

🪫 What happens to the surplus we don't use?

• Without a battery and without buy-back: it goes to the distribution grid and you get nothing.
• With a battery: it is stored for later – e.g. for the evening.
• With buy-back: you can sell it, but the price is low (4–6 cents per kWh).
• With an EC: it can be sensibly distributed among the apartments – the most efficient solution.

📊 When is it worth it?

• Ideally:
  • when you have a larger roof without shading,
  • when you have enough common consumption (e.g. elevator, lighting, pumps),
  • when you are ready to establish an EC or use part of the generated energy for common purposes.
• It is also worth it if you are planning:
  • electromobility in the garage,
  • water heating (boilers),
  • modernisation of the building with an energy goal.

✅ Summary – what do you need?

Step	Required?
Owners' approval (2/3)	✅
Technical assessment of the roof	✅
Agreement with the distribution company	✅, if on-grid
Building permit / notification	✅
Financing (fund, loan, subsidy)	✅
Energy community	❌ only if you want to share with apartments
Smart electricity meters	❌ only if energy is shared among apartments

If you are interested in a specific solution proposal for your apartment building, the MYSME team will be happy to help – from the technical design to subsidies and communication with the owners.

Write to us and start saving with energy from the sun. 🌞