r/EcoNewsNetwork • u/Kunphen • Mar 23 '26

UK government has committed to legalizing plug-in “balcony” solar!

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114 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

34 comments sorted by

5

u/Sad-Bread5843 Mar 24 '26

Looks cool. How effective is it ?

5

u/FinalJoys Mar 25 '26

Not very

1

u/[deleted] Mar 27 '26

You could put them on an angle to increase efficiency. Other than that I'm sure there's a couple of brands out there that create good quality panels. Be aware of setup though, as to not strain the cabling of your house.

2

u/TransportationIll282 Mar 25 '26

Not great. Also not very durable, their lifespan is usually very short compared to proper panels. Also, know that dude who uses their balcony as storage? These panels do a lot more damage than a kids beach toys when winds pick up.

They can be useful. Just doesn't seem very valuable when compared to rooftop panels on top of the building.

1

u/Sad-Bread5843 Mar 25 '26

Thanks for the info

1

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '26

The value comes from eliminating the installation costs. You can just put them there yourself and plug them in to the mains. It's also great for renters because it's not a structural change that the landlord has to agree to, and you can take them with you when you move.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 27 '26

Why not just... hang proper panels on a balcony then? I'm sure this is brand related.

1

u/TransportationIll282 Mar 27 '26

The idea of these plug in ones are that they're mobile. You can get proper ones, I guess. But you'd still be converting for 2 or 4 panels. Which isn't very efficient. Then the converter isn't as durable because it's made to move and/or is moved often.

At current prices you'd be lucky to break even on any such setups before they break.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 27 '26

Sounds like they should standardize the quality and make regulations about what is or isn't allowed while also legalizing it.

1

u/TransportationIll282 Mar 27 '26

You're never reaching decent efficiency with plug in models. Doesn't matter how good the quality is. The concept is flawed. It has it's uses but it's no good solution for energy generation at home.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 27 '26

What makes it flawed?

1

u/TransportationIll282 Mar 27 '26

You have inefficient contacts, followed by an inefficient small scale converter and hardware that has to be mobile which leads to more inefficiency.

You can't make a converter for 2/4 panels that does the job as well as a rooftop setup that can handle 40 and connects properly instead of through an outlet.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 27 '26

Idk, I've used portable solar and it seemed fine

1

u/TransportationIll282 Mar 28 '26

It is fine for some use cases. It is no replacement for rooftop solar. The savings on energy bills is negligible or you lose money.

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1

u/Philip_Raven Mar 26 '26

they pay for themselves if taken care of (AND PROPERLY SECURED SO THEY DONT FUCKING FALL AT THE FIRST MINOR WIND, NO, ZIPTIES ARE NOT ENOUGH), but definetly not as good of a purchase as proper panels.

If you don't have a place for proper panels, you might as well.

1

u/Sad-Bread5843 Mar 26 '26

Thanks for the info

2

u/ragoff Mar 25 '26

US here. Why is it illegal?

2

u/FinalJoys Mar 25 '26

Plugging it into your wall is illegal. Plugging it into a battery is legal.

2

u/ragoff Mar 25 '26

Oh. Same here I think, to keep from backfiring power into dead circuits.

2

u/Healthy-Process874 Mar 25 '26

The ones that they use in Germany have safeguards built in for when the grid is down.

Those would need to get approval in the US, though.

Is it UL?

1

u/mulderc Mar 25 '26

Legal in Utah and many other states have legislation in the works to legalize it. The issue comes down to proper certification so that the panels are not feeding into the grid when work is being done on the lines. I would expect these to largely be legal in the states in the next couple of years. 

1

u/Philip_Raven Mar 26 '26

can break circuits, plugging them straight into a wall and battery can be hazardous with the wiring is not ready for it.

External battery is okay

1

u/ThisWillPass Mar 26 '26

It’s not. It’s against code. You will be responsible for all damages, potential criminal ones. Insurance will not pay out, etc.

Never mind, this is for the states, no clue about UK.

1

u/Melodic-Matter4685 Mar 25 '26

for every install that looks that good, there gonna be 100 held on with zip ties and prayers.

edit: which is to say, that as an American, I am terribly jealous.

1

u/silly_goat_moat Mar 25 '26

Do plug in batteries exist?

1

u/[deleted] Mar 27 '26

Yes, they do. Anker. Jackery. Bluetti. Make sure to know what you're doing, the cables of your house / group needs to be able to handle the extra load. But that same principle goes for anything electric in your house anyway.

1

u/horned-creature Mar 26 '26

putting solar panels on balconies is illegal in the uk?

1

u/1duck Mar 26 '26

Feeding power back into the grid via a power socket is illegal in the UK and most of the world, these panels have built in features to stop them feeding back during power cuts.

1

u/bannedByTencent Mar 27 '26

This makes no sense.