‘Balcony solar’ could soon be coming to Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- There is bipartisan support to legalize the use of “balcony solar” in Virginia. 

A bipartisan commission recently recommended that lawmakers consider legalizing the technology, also known as plug-in solar. 

VCU Associate Professor of Urban and Regional Studies and Planning Damian Pitt told 8News that balcony solar panel systems are smaller and less expensive than traditional solar panel systems. Pitt added that for Virginians to generate electricity with the technology, all they would need to do is plug the system in. 

“It's literally plugged into an outlet in your home, or, you know, an exterior outlet in your home, one would assume,” Pitt told 8News. 

Pitt said balcony solar panel systems typically consist of two or three regular solar panels, and generate considerably less energy. He said they are currently in use in Europe, and are popular for people living in apartments, or people who rent their homes. 

“We’re talking about a portable system that could be in theory, moved from one apartment to another, or from one rental home to another,” Pitt said.

Pitt adds that generating electricity at home could save you money and reduce the strain on the electrical grid.

It's providing electricity that is essentially replacing the electricity that you would otherwise be buying from the electricity grid, and thus reducing your bill in that way,” Pitt said.

Pitt said it’s also important for lawmakers to put some regulations in place to ensure the technology doesn’t generate too much energy. 

“Anytime that there’s a surge of power on a circuit, it could trip the circuit, it could, in theory, start, potentially even cause a fire. I think that’s a very low concern with something like balcony solar,” Pitt told 8News. 

Lawmakers will consider legalizing balcony solar when the General Assembly convenes in January.