According to engineers, it's a win-win solution.

While still facing hurdles rather than support in Hungary, balcony solar panels are being snapped up like hotcakes in Germany. To date, over 400,000 of these units have been installed, with 50,000 purchased by Germans in just the first quarter of 2024, as reported by Interesting Engineering.

This balcony-based solution, popular in many parts of Europe, is similar to rooftop solar panel systems but on a smaller scale – containing no more than two panels – and instead of being connected to the grid, it connects directly to an electrical outlet. Although it produces only a tenth of the power compared to rooftop panels, it is extremely easy to manage. So much so, that installation can be done by anyone following the instruction manual.

Another advantage is its applicability to buildings under heritage protection, as installation does not involve tampering with roof structures. Moreover, the system is portable, meaning if someone lives in a rental and needs to move, they can simply pack up and take the system with them.

The solution is supported in several parts of Europe, including Germany, France, Austria, Italy, and Poland, whilst other countries like Belgium are less enthusiastic due to concerns that the systems could have a significant impact on the grid, potentially leading to its collapse.

However, German experts have told EuroNews that the panels' impact on the grid is so minimal that it will not cause any issues.

An additional benefit of the system is the option to include a battery, allowing users to decide to use the electricity generated during the day for their own use.