this post was submitted on 12 Aug 2025
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Can’t put solar panels on your roof? Plug-in ‘balcony solar’ may be for you. (www.washingtonpost.com)
submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) by silence7@slrpnk.net to c/energy@slrpnk.net
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Balcony solar promises to cut energy costs and grid reliance for renters and apartment-dwellers. I did a trial run at my home.

Mostly notable because the Washington Post is a US publication, and there is approximately zero balcony solar in the US.

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Additional coverage in the New York Times

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[–] Korhaka@sopuli.xyz 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Where do you buy equipment for this kind of thing though?

I could buy a bunch of Jackery panels and batteries but isn't that pretty expensive for the capacity you get? They are easy to use but not really designed for this, I doubt batteries for residential use are drop tested for example.

2kWh £1400, +2kWh at £900 each up to 12kWh. Solar panels: 200w £400 each, (up to 6? - £2400 for 1.2kW)

So 1.2kW solar with 6kWh storage would be £5.6k. Could be worth it for building your own off grid cabin but not sure how reasonable it would be for a regular household.

[–] silence7@slrpnk.net 2 points 2 days ago

In countries where it is widespread, there are dedicated panels sold for this, rather than ones designed for off-grid emergency batteries. They're reasonable compared with the cost of electricity.