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✔ Plug-in solar panels are a popular option for balconies
✔ They don’t require professional installation and can be easily removed
✔ Plug-in solar panels generally cost between £100 and £600
Balcony solar panels cost less than roof-mounted ones if you opt for a plug-in model, which is the preferred option for most balcony set ups.
In this article, we’ll take you through the various ways to use solar panels on balconies, how well they work, and how much they cost. We’ll also let you know what balconies are suitable for them.
Want to get solar panels professionally installed on your roof instead? Just fill in our short form, and we’ll pass your details along to our network of installers. They’ll be in touch with tailored quotes.
Yes, you can put solar panels on balconies. However, most balconies aren’t large enough to fit the number of solar panels needed to power a house or an apartment.
That’s why most people opt to use plug-in solar panels, also called portable solar panels, on balconies.
These types of panels don’t require professional installation. They can be used alongside a portable solar battery, as part of a solar generator system – like the kind people use on camping trips – and some models can be plugged directly into the home’s electrical sockets.
You can also install vertical solar panels on the balcony railing that are connected by a professional to the electrical mains. But these types of installations are expensive, so they might not be worth the investment, given the limited space available on most balconies.
Solar panels on balconies can work well, as long as nothing is obstructing light from reaching the panels.
For example, balcony walls, nearby trees, or buildings can cast a shadow on the solar panels and reduce their electricity output.
The angle and direction the solar panels will also affect their output. In the UK, ideally solar panels should be between a 20° and 50° angle, facing southwards. This exposes the panels to the most amount of sunlight, and more sunlight means more electricity.
Angling a portable solar panel is usually quite easy, since they often come with adjustable stands or holders. This might not be possible if the panels are being suspended from the balcony railings.
If you have a balcony that faces east, west, or north, the solar panels won’t generate as much electricity as they could on a south facing balcony. North-facing panels in particular will be exposed to the least amount of sunlight.
The main advantage of balcony solar panels is that they allow people – generally those living in flats or rental accommodation – who can’t install solar panels on their roof to use free solar power.
Plus, since plug-in balcony solar panels don’t require professional installation, they can be set up and taken down easily, and at no extra cost. This makes them a great option for renters.
The DIY aspect of plug-in balcony solar panels also means that they’re less expensive than roof-mounted systems.
Lastly, if the balcony solar panels aren’t fixed to ramps or hooks to the railing of the balcony, their angle can be adjusted to follow the angle of the sun in the sky. This allows them to capture more sunlight and generate more electricity.
The main disadvantage of having solar panels on a balcony is that you can’t fit as many solar panels on a balcony as you could on a roof. People with particularly large balconies might be able to fit two 400 watt (W) panels, whereas the average roof will fit 10 350 W panels.
Fewer panels also mean less electricity being generated. Most homeowners won’t be able to power their whole home with balcony solar panels.
Another disadvantage of balcony solar panels is that, depending on the set-up, they take up most of the balcony – one panel is around two square metres. You can free up space on the balcony if you opt to hang the solar panels from the balcony railings or wall.
Lastly, in the case of plug-in balcony solar panels, most models won’t feed the electricity they generate directly to the home’s electrical supply. To use the energy they generate, you need a portable solar battery, which will add to the overall costs.
Luckily, portable solar batteries are often sold as part of a solar generation package alongside portable solar panels.
Plug-in solar panels on balconies do not need to be installed by a professional.
The solar panels just need to be propped up on the balcony, or suspended from the balcony railings, in an unobstructed spot that receives direct light.
To use the electricity they generate, the panels either need to be connected to a solar generator, or plugged into an electrical socket. Most plug-in solar panels come with charge controllers and mini-inverters.
The charge controller controls and regulates the flow of electricity, while the inverter converts the direct current (DC) electricity the panels generate into alternating current (AC) electricity, the kind used by electrical appliances.
Plug-in balcony solar panels cost anywhere from £100 to £600.
Getting a portable solar battery will add another £200 to £600 to the overall cost of a portable solar power generation system.
These two devices are often sold as part of solar generation kits, which can include multiple portable solar panels and a solar battery. The price of these can go up to over £2,000 for kits that include high-capacity solar panels and solar batteries.
Installing balcony solar panels that are connected to the home’s electrical system costs around £1,405 for two 350 W panels – most balconies won’t have room for more than this.
There are no grants for portable solar panels. However, there are grants for residential solar panel installations – the kind that are connected to the home’s electrical system.
If you choose to get solar panels professionally installed on your balcony, you could be eligible for grants such as ECO4 or the Home Upgrade Grant. Both these grants are available for low-income families or those receiving certain benefits.
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