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What It Is, How it Works, and Who Can Use It
In Germany, they call it balkonkraftwerk, and over the past five years, over a million registered balcony solar setups have been installed generating over 1 GW of energy collectively. This is all part of Germany’s goal of being climate neutral by 2045, and it seems to have taken off. Germany is leading the way, quickly becoming a proving ground for the rest of the world. They’ve also watched costs associated with this technology drop by nearly 50% over this time.
The reason Germany has seen so much success is that it legalized balcony solar setups of 800 watts or less to be installed without a permit. This means landlords and utility companies can’t charge fees or require permission for these installations, which puts the solar power directly in the hands of the people. In the United States, Utah was the first state to pass legislation permitting balcony solar setups of up to 1200 watts.
Depending on when you’re reading this article, your state may not allow balcony solar installation. And if that’s the case, keep scrolling for some tips on how to contact your state representatives about passing legislation. However, if you’re lucky enough to live in a place that allows balcony solar technology without a permit, here’s what you need to know:
What is Balcony Solar?
“Balcony solar” is a nickname for small portable solar generation devices that are designed to plug directly into an outlet and provide a limited amount of energy offset without the need for special permits or fees. Up until recently, if you wanted to use solar energy to offset your energy costs, you had to hardwire it directly into your home, requiring permission from your utility, HOA, AHJ, and especially...landlord. In fact, solar energy was pretty much out of reach for renters.
Thanks to new legislation, solar is becoming accessible to more and more people, especially people who don’t own their property or live in urban areas. Combined with specially designed plug-in microinverters from pioneering companies like APSystems, we’re entering a new age of solar that makes it easier than ever for anyone to take charge of their energy costs.
Why Don’t You Need a Permit for Balcony Solar Systems?
Remember, this only applies to states that have passed legislation making this type of system allowable under law. The typical home or apartment easily eats up the 1200 watt maximum output that balcony solar systems provide. This means little to no energy will be fed back into the grid. That said, you still need to contact your utility company so they can install a bidirectional or smart meter to monitor energy flow.
Why You Want Plug-and-Play Solar
A balcony solar setup is an easy DIY option for saving money on your utility bill—the engineers at NAZ Solar Electric estimate you can save $10-$15 a month, a savings that will only increase as energy costs rise. Other benefits include:
- Easy, DIY-friendly installation—you literally just mount the panels and plug in the inverter.
- Flexible mounting options.
- Optimal for renters and city dwellers, giving everyone the opportunity to enjoy clean energy savings.
- Quick payback—depending on the cost of your system, it could pay itself back in as little as four years and keep producing energy for many more years to come.
Balcony solar systems are also a good way to dabble in solar if you’re not ready to jump all the way into off-grid or grid-tied living. The APSystem EZ1 microinverter is outdoor rated so you can install your solar setup anywhere, whether it’s running lights on your patio or powering your pool’s water pump.
We offer several mounting options for balcony solar kits. If you need help figuring out which one is right for you, feel free to reach out to our application engineers.
Can I Use a Balcony Solar System Instead of a Rooftop Grid-Tied System?
A balcony solar setup isn’t a replacement for a full, rooftop system, as it will only replace between 10%-30% of your home’s electricity usage. While you may be able to expand the system to power more of your home than intended, to remain within legal limits, your balcony solar setup can only put out the number of watts allowable by your state—most likely 1200 watts maximum.
What if Balcony Solar Isn’t Legal in My State?
The good news is that you can do more than just wait and see. Much of the hold-up to cutting through the red tape is lack of education on the part of utility companies and legislators. Most people simply don’t know the difference between large-scale and small, portable solar.
If you want balcony solar made legal in your state, call your representatives. If it helps, plan out a script:
- First, explain that you are a homeowner or renter and that you want to lower your utility costs.
- Then ask that they pass legislation allowing small, certified plug-in solar systems (under 1.2 kWh) to be treated like other appliances and installed without complicated utility interconnection agreements or permitting processes.
- Suggest they review, if they haven’t already, Utah’s legislation (HB 340).
- Finally, reiterate that this is about equitable access to energy choices for renters and urban dwellers.
The Solar Landscape is Constantly Changing
Anytime you’re planning to make a modification to your property or tap into the electrical grid, it’s important to check with your local AHJ to find out what permissions, inspections, etc. you need to be legally compliant. With solar technology continuing to advance and movements like balcony solar making sustainable energy more accessible, it’s only going to get easier and more beneficial to embrace solar.
At NAZ Solar Electric, we believe in helping each other find the best ways to take control of our energy costs and environmental impacts. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions you have on getting started with solar.
