1M+ German households have hung solar panels off their balcony railings

karim79

"Balkonkraftwerk" Hell yes I'm down for this.

metalman

Pakistan has gone far far beyond this level of indivual solar instals for personal use, somewhere over 3 gigawatts, and in the absence of any regualatory anything, but still somehow helping to stabilise the grid, it's now irevocably entrenched and expanding very quickly. Hopefully the next phase will see a major switch to EV's and something can begin to change in what is some of the worst airpolution on the planet, as emmisions are regualated the same as PV and batteries, ie:with very occasional performative hand wringing.

zhivota

Philippines is seeing an incredible explosion in solar power, but none of this kind of thing. Instead it's driven by a gray market - equipment is imported, mostly without paying proper duties and taxes, installers are unlicensed, installs are not reported and don't apply for net metering, so the incentive is to maximize your battery capacity as a result. The lack of state capacity here to enforce rules has allowed solar to flourish.

rpaik

Balcony panels are awaiting governor's signature in California: https://www.kqed.org/science/2001842/california-lawmakers-gr... (it looks like NY & NJ are in the same boat)

casper14

Solar is good, but come on Germany, would have been nice to still have some of these nuclear powers plants eh.

thijson

Plug in solar is nice because you don't have to hire an electrician, just plug into an outlet.

thelastgallon

Plug-Ins allow renters to participate in the energy ecosystem. Also, people who live in apartments, not independent homes. This is probably more than two-thirds of the people on the planet. Plug-ins increase energy literary. People will learn to love their energy (IKEA effect). Germans and other European countries buying them will create demand, and products will become cheaper and incredibly reliable. There are zero labor costs, no need of electricians or permits. Instant energy/energystorage on tap. Billions of poor people will just buy plug-in products or panels (like Pakistan), and the creative explosion of ideas of a billion people will create many interesting products for a range of uses.