Volts What's the deal with balcony solar?
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Nov 26, 2025 Cora Stryker, co-founder of BrightSaver, dives into the world of balcony solar, advocating for plug-in systems in the U.S. She discusses the simplicity of DIY assembly and contrasts it with stringent U.S. regulations that hinder adoption. Cora highlights Germany's successful renter protections and interconnection reforms as a model. She also predicts significant cost reductions and accelerated adoption in the U.S., emphasizing grassroots advocacy to drive change. Plus, there's a peek at the potential future of solar as a normalized part of American life!
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Regulation Sparked A Mass DIY Solar Boom
- Germany enabled easy, legal balcony solar and saw ~4 million installs by 2025.
- That regulatory change drove mass consumer adoption and normalized small-scale PV.
Two Legal Steps That Changed Uptake
- Germany first exempted small systems from interconnection and later protected renters.
- Exemptions plus renter protections triggered rapid adoption among tenants.
Write Laws That Create A New Small-PV Class
- Replicate Germany by creating a legal class exempt from interconnection under a wattage cap.
- Pair that with renter protections to unlock adoption in apartments.