NRW Sees Surge in Balcony Solar Panel Installations

New legislation facilitates the expansion of mini solar systems, empowering more households to generate their own electricity.

The number of balcony solar panels in North Rhine-Westphalia has more than doubled since the beginning of the year, with over 144,000 systems now in operation.
Nationwide, the total number of registered mini solar systems has surged to approximately 717,000, up from 346,000 at the start of the year.
A new law passed by the Bundesrat grants tenants easier access to install plug-in solar devices, requiring landlords to provide specific reasons to deny installation requests.
Despite the boom, only 20-30% of these systems are registered as required, potentially exposing owners to fines under energy regulations.
Experts highlight the economic benefits, with small systems offering potential savings on electricity bills, recouping installation costs in about five years.