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lemmy - Link to source

Balcony Solar is coming to the USA, sort of
Utah passed a law allowing balcony solar, which is already extremely popular in Germany. Over 30 states are working on bills to do the same, and once there are 5 states, the market is expected to entice competition. The technology of plug in solar has already proven to be perfectly safe at wattages as low as 800 watts per household, and the 1200 watt limit in Utah appears to be just as safe and diminimus.

What's the deal with balcony solar?

Cora Stryker joins me to explain how "plug-in" solar took Europe by storm and is finally, via Utah (?), making its way to America.
David Roberts (Volts)
#technology
in reply to Dippy

Midnitte
lemmy - Link to source
Midnitte
• •
Would be great for condos - I have an upstairs balcony that's sort of useless for anything else.
in reply to Midnitte

Dippy
lemmy - Link to source
Dippy
• •
1200 watts isn't everything, but its definitely something, and when there are 7.4 million condominiums and 120 million renters in the USA. If a tenth of them get 1200 watts, that's 1.5 gigawatts in the usa
in reply to Dippy

SuiXi3D
mbin - Link to source
SuiXi3D
• •
I mean, that’ll offset lights and idle appliances, at least. Or even a fairly beefy PC.
in reply to SuiXi3D

Dippy
lemmy - Link to source
Dippy
• •
Payback period varies, but in Germany, most buyers are seeing a 4-5 year period
in reply to SuiXi3D

artyom
piefed - Link to source
artyom
• •

Nah, 1200w is much more than that.

If you live in LA that's like 2MWh/year.

in reply to Midnitte

HubertManne
piefed - Link to source
HubertManne
• •
I have a balcony that already has a 120 plug. Can't wait for this and honestly im hoping it will also allow for an easy battery to be used whole home.
in reply to Dippy

artyom
piefed - Link to source
artyom
• •
If you're like me, wondering what "balcony solar" is, it's basically just solar panels that plug directly into your wall outlet.
in reply to artyom

HubertManne
piefed - Link to source
HubertManne
• •
yeah the main thing is no special wiring needs to be done or additional expensive setup.
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