What is Balcony Solar

In the US, the Washington Post observed, 53 million households cannot install rooftop solar because they live in apartments or they are renters. Millions more don’t install it, even if they have a rooftop, because it seems too expensive or too difficult. These people may soon have an alternative that makes solar energy accessible to almost anyone.

Balcony solar is a simple “plug-and-play” solar panel that can be installed easily, Third Act explained. A solar panel connects to a device that converts solar power to electricity. It plugs into a standard outlet and can provide up to 800 watts, enough to run a small fridge or a laptop. The solution is affordable because it avoids the cost of installation on a rooftop, and renters can take the panels along when they move because they’re portable. Along with hanging panels on a balcony, panel owners can put them on top of a carport or an RV or almost any stable surface. 

Balcony solar systems typically generate 200-800 watts of peak power, according to Solar Tech, translating to a 10-30 percent reduction in apartment electricity bills. A 400-watt system produces approximately 300-600 kilowatt hours (kWh) annually and pays for itself within about five years, depending on location and conditions. 

As one example, the Washington Post said one homeowner’s $2,000 plug-in solar system consists of two 400-watt panels, an inverter, a smart meter and a circuit breaker. It saves around $35 per month on the power bill. Moreover, adding hardware can enable these systems to scale up to 4,000 watts, powering a significant share of the electrical load in the average home. 

Admittedly, installing a balcony solar system may require some work. Potential purchasers should check their utility’s policies first and building permits might be required. While some systems can be self-installed, kits such as ones that have meters that must be wired into a home’s circuit breaker may require an electrician.

Regulations Impede Installation

In Germany, the Washington Post said, balcony solar is hugely popular and as many as 4 million systems hang on railings there. Unlike Germany, however, most states in the US do not yet have regulations that allow balcony solar. 

Several concerns may be at least a partial cause of regulations not being in place. First, sending too much electricity into a home can potentially overload wires and cause fires. Grist noted that solutions need breaker masking, so that a single circuit that provides power to several outlets has a circuit breaker that shuts off power if the circuit becomes overloaded. Without breaker masking, the breaker might not detect a balcony solar device sending power into a circuit while other appliances are drawing power and might fail to activate. Second, the systems may push power onto the electricity grid without coordinating with the utility. Additionally, panels must be shown to be safe and certifiers such as panels must be safe. Underwriters Laboratory (UL) has not yet approved balcony solar solutions. As Germany has shown, though, the concerns are manageable with technical solutions already in the market.

There has been progress in a very limited number of locations. Utah became the first state in the United States to allow balcony solar earlier this year after Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed House Bill 340, The Business Download reported. People who want a balcony solar system do not need to get approval from the electric company before installing or using them, do not have to pay fees related to these systems, and do not have to install controls or equipment beyond what the system already has. The legislation created a category of small portable solar generation devices that have a power output of no more than 1,200 watts, connect to a building’s electrical system through a standard 120-volt AC outlet, meet National Electrical Code standards and are certified by a testing laboratory such as UL. The devices must also include features that prevent the system from energizing the building’s electrical system during a power outage.

Bright Saver, a non-profit, is actively seeking partnerships across the country with advocacy groups to promote legislation similar to what was passed in Utah. Advocates in New Hampshire and Vermont are preparing legislation for lawmakers to allow balcony solar. 

Even with the legislation, actually installing balcony solar solutions may be some time away. Underwriters Laboratories does not yet have a standard for “complete balcony products, Grist said, though it does outline standards for individual components such as photovoltaic panels and inverters. Another issue could be the lack of a compatible safety device called a ground fault circuit interrupter. 

Balcony Solar in Washington State

So far, there appears to be little or no movement in Washington State to allow balcony solar solutions. As Clark County Public Utilities noted, “modular ‘plug-in’ solar panels are not legal in Washington state. They should not be plugged into your home’s 110-volt sockets under any circumstances. Please see the Washington Labor and Industries website for additional information.”

Northwest Electric and Solar also noted that solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery storage systems in Washington require an electrical permit. It is typically issued by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), or a local authority if they have their own permitting department.

While regulations to allow balcony solar in the United States have been slower than in some other countries, changes including elimination of tax incentives for solar resulting in higher costs for rooftop solar installation and higher electricity prices could well propel changes faster than might previously have been expected.