Balcony solar panels are having a breakout year in the US

Plug-in solar panels that hang off a balcony and connect directly to a standard wall outlet have gone from a niche German habit to one of the fastest-growing clean energy trends in the United States this year. At the start of 2026, only Utah had explicitly legalized the devices; by September, nine states had followed as lawmakers looked for ways to help residents cut soaring electricity bills.

More than two dozen state legislatures introduced balcony solar bills this year. Virginia became the second state to legalize the panels in April, and Colorado and several Northeastern states followed soon after. The panels typically produce a few hundred watts each — not enough to power a home outright, but enough to measurably lower a monthly bill for renters and homeowners who can't install rooftop solar.

The surge comes as US households face record-high power costs, and advocates say the technology's low cost and simple installation make it one of the more accessible ways for people without their own roof to participate directly in the energy transition.

Based on reporting by Kathryn Krawczyk for Canary Media. Read the original: https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/balcony-solar/clean-energy-plug-in-solar-panels