The Rise of Balcony Solar Power

Felicity Bradstock

Felicity Bradstock is a freelance writer specialising in Energy and Finance. She has a Master’s in International Development from the University of Birmingham, UK.

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By Felicity Bradstock – Jul 13, 2025, 10:00 AM CDT

Balcony solar panels enable apartment dwellers to generate their own renewable energy without rooftop access.
Germany leads Europe in adopting balcony solar, while the U.K. and U.S. are evaluating safety and regulatory frameworks.
Compact plug-in solar systems offer an affordable, accessible way to reduce household energy bills and carbon footprints.

The world’s solar power capacity has risen dramatically in recent years, as governments have invested in a green transition and energy companies have taken advantage of favourable renewable energy policies. In addition to the growth in utility-scale solar power, more households across a wide range of countries have invested in solar panels. In line with the increase in demand, solar companies have started to offer a wider range of panels, suitable for non-conventional spaces, to provide more consumers with solar power.

The silicon photovoltaic (PV) cell was created in 1954, marking a breakthrough in solar power and allowing researchers to power an electric device for several hours a day. Since then, scientists have been working tirelessly to improve the efficiency of PV technology. In addition to increasing efficiency from around 14 percent in the 1990s to up to 23 percent today, investments in the solar energy sector have helped researchers to develop lower-cost solar panels that are more accessible to consumers around the globe. They have also been able to develop small-scale solar panels with a high efficiency to use in small or non-conventional spaces.

In 2022, in the U.S., small-scale rooftop solar generated enough energy to power around 5.7 million homes, marking a tenfold increase from the previous decade. An Environment America Research and Policy Centre and Frontier Group report found that residential solar energy systems produced 64 percent of all electricity from small-scale solar installations in the U.S. that year. And now, thanks to new technology, the global residential solar power market may grow even further as companies offer more versatile, small-scale solar panels in the form of “balcony solar”.

Balcony solar allows people living in smaller housing, with limited outdoor space, to fit a small number of panels onto their balconies and terraces to generate power for the household. This technology has become popular across Europe, particularly in France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Germany, as consumers look to drive down energy bills and switch to green. The panels can be plugged directly into power sockets, removing the need for professional installation. Their small size means the panels produce around 10 percent of the energy of residential rooftop systems.

Many Europeans simply hang these small-scale panels off their balconies to produce power during daylight hours. In Germany, around 1.5 million apartments now have balcony solar power. Official data suggests that approximately 220,000 PV devices were installed across Germany during the first half of 2024. Consumers have been encouraged by the German government to install solar panels, offering users feed-in tariffs and providing a fixed price for every unit of electricity sent to the grid. Germany limits balcony solar units to 800 watts of power production as part of its safety standards.

In the U.K., “plug-in” solar power is prohibited, but this may soon change. The U.K. currently requires solar systems and wiring to be installed by a professional. This is also the case in Belgium, where the government is concerned about the impact of having unregistered systems feeding into the electricity grid. However, in the U.K., the government recently said it would launch a safety study “with the aim of unlocking opportunities for plug-in solar over the next few years” to help the U.K. triple its solar capacity by 2030. The use of balcony solar could help drive down consumer energy costs and allow renters to gain access to solar power without having to rely on their landlord to install rooftop solar.

Gemma Grimes, the director of policy at trade body Solar Energy U.K., explained some of the reasons for restricting plug-in solar technology. “[It] is due to a range of considerations, including aesthetics, structural/building safety and consumer safety. There are other practical considerations, including the location of electric sockets and cable protection – we do not tend to have electrical sockets installed on balconies in this country,” said Grimes. “The installation of all electrical equipment comes with risks, and it is important that any risks are fully understood prior to widespread rollout. We are aware of examples on the continent – including Germany – and are keen to learn from their experience,” she added.

Meanwhile, in the U.S., there is no official safety standard for balcony solar, which has prevented knowledge and uptake of the technology. There are several barriers to rolling out plug-in panels in the U.S., with regulators stressing that they cannot simply replicate the German model as the electrical system is different. For example, there is no ground fault circuit interrupter in the U.S., meaning appliances do not cut out as necessary to minimise the risk of electric shock. However, some states, such as Utah, have begun to introduce legislation to encourage greater uptake, a move which may be followed by other states.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

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