Balcony solar has proven wildly popular in Germany, but U.S. isn’t ready

Ten years ago, Germany took steps to make widespread use of balcony solar power possible, and residents have made the concept widely popular.

The devices, which can be easily hung from a balcony and plugged in can provide up to 800 watts, enough to charge a laptop or power a small refrigerator. Germans have installed millions of these devices, according to a Grist report.

U.S. residents cannot install these devices due to a lack of regulations and standards.

Essential approvals required for adoption including compliance with the National Electrical Code and a product safety standard from Underwriters Laboratories are not in place.

Support for balcony solar in the U.S. has emerged, though. The Utah Legislature unanimously passed a bill recently to boost the technology, and Gov. Spencer Cox signed it. H.B. 340 exempts portable solar devices from state regulations that require owners of rooftop solar arrays and other power-generating systems to sign an interconnection agreement with their local utility.

Utah residents will have to wait until technical standards are enacted before attaching PVs to their balconies, though.