So called “Balcony Solar” has been hot in Europe for some time.
Regulatory barriers have kept it from taking off in the US up til now, but as electric rates become election issues – look for legislators to take the top off.
cquiring solar panels at home can be an expensive hassle for people in the US. But small, simple, plug-in solar panels for use on balconies are soon to become available for millions of Americans, with advocates hoping the technology will quickly go mainstream.
Earlier this year, Utah became the first state in the country to pass legislation allowing people to purchase and install small, portable solar panels that plug into a standard wall socket.
When attached outside to the balcony or patio of a dwelling, such panels can provide enough power for residents to run free of charge, home appliances such as fridges, dishwashers, washing machines and wi-fi without spending money on electricity from the grid.
Balcony solar panels are now widespread in countries such as Germany – where more than 1m homes have them – but have until now been stymied in the US by state regulations. This is set to change, with lawmakers in New York and Pennsylvania filing bills to join Utah in adopting permission for the panels, with Vermont, Maryland and New Hampshire set to follow suit soon.
“Plug-in solar is a powerful tool to deliver enhanced energy independence and affordability to millions of New Yorkers who are currently shut out of the solar economy,” said Liz Krueger, a New York state senator who has sponsored a bill to allow balcony solar.
But solar power doesn’t have to be mounted on a roof. Another popular innovation with flat dwellers, especially in Germany, is balcony solar. Around 1.5 million balkonkraftwerk (balcony power plant) systems have been installed, each generating around 880 watts and meeting up to 35% of a typical apartment’s daily electricity use.
The units are plug-in, avoiding any installation costs, and a version is now being sold by IKEA, helping to meet consumer demand for greater energy independence.
In the UK, the technology is currently prohibited, as regulations state that solar systems need to be professionally installed, explains Chris Hewett, chief executive of Solar Energy UK. However, as part of the UK’s Solar Roadmap, the government has announced a safety study, with the aim of unlocking opportunities for plug-in solar.
Alongside solar on tower blocks, he says that leasing and subscription services for solar panels, with customers paying a monthly fee rather than having to find upfront costs, are also helping more people benefit from cheaper renewable energy. “There’s definitely an appetite for how do we give greater access to these technologies to a wider set of people,” he says.
Platt of Emergent says ensuring that solar isn’t something only affordable for private houses will help counterclaims by some politicians that the UK’s net-zero policies are too expensive.
“A big part of the problem is that the benefits (of net-zero) are not shared equitably across society,” he says. Without that, he fears that the whole decarbonisation agenda risks becoming derailed.