What to know before you get balcony solar
Canary Media’s “Electrified Life” column shares real-world tales, tips, and insights to demystify what individuals can do to shift their homes and lives to clean electric power.
The DIY systems, which you can hang on a balcony and plug into a normal 120-volt outlet, help lower energy bills and carbon emissions. Already huge in Germany, solar that’s as easy to install as an appliance would be a game changer for the four out of 10 U.S. households that can’t get rooftop systems for financial or logistical reasons.
In 2025, deep-red Utah became the first state to pass a bill making it easier to adopt plug-in solar systems. So far this year, four more states have all advanced similar measures — and nearly two dozen others are weighing bills of their own.
Considering a balcony power plant yourself? Check our tracker to see the status of plug-in solar legislation in your state, and keep reading for some FAQs on the tech.
What is balcony (or plug-in) solar?
Balcony solar systems are modest in size, ranging from just one to a few solar panels. Most states, including California and New York, are considering capping systems at 1,200 watts — a sixth of the average home-solar installation.
The panels connect to an inverter that converts their direct current into alternating current, the kind our homes use. A plug from the inverter fits into a typical 120-volt outlet (15 or 20 amps), pumping the power of the sun directly into a home’s existing wiring.
The systems can cover a small but meaningful fraction of a home’s electricity use: An 800-watt unit can power the equivalent of a fridge or a few small appliances when the sun’s shining.
One or two people can set up a system in less than an hour without the help of a professional. In states with balcony solar laws, you don’t need permission from your utility, unlike when installing a larger rooftop array. Nor do you need to pay the utility a fee.
How much does it cost — and how much could I save?
Balcony solar costs range from several hundred dollars to more than $1,000, depending on the system size, and can save a household hundreds of dollars per year.
In Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area, for example, the plug-in solar nonprofit Bright Saver offers a two-panel, 800-watt system for $1,499 and a four-panel, 1,600-watt system for $2,348. (Because of utility rules, Bright Saver currently provides these products only to residents who already have rooftop solar and want to expand.)
At $1.47 to $1.87 per watt before taxes, that’s a pretty good deal in the U.S. Nationally, the average rooftop system costs $2.58 per watt before local and state incentives.
The payback period depends on how much electricity your home uses and your utility rate. But according to Bright Saver, these systems can save California households nearly $500 per year and have a payback period of four to five years.
Once they’re paid off, every sunny hour can provide you with free power for the life of the solar panels, many of which are warranted to last 30-plus years.
Can I install balcony solar even if I don’t have a balcony?
Absolutely. Physically, the panels can go anywhere they’re safely secured and able to soak up a lot of sun, such as a deck, patio, porch, fence, or yard.
Unless, of course, your home is subject to limiting regulations. Your city or homeowners’ association may have rules about where you can put solar panels. If you’re a renter, you’ll want to double-check your lease to make sure you’re not prohibited from hanging them outside.