BRUSSELS, Belgium (Wednesday 12th March 2025): SolarPower Europe launches its first Plug-In Solar PV report, providing an in-depth analysis of this emerging solar segment.
Plug-in solar photovoltaic (PV) products are gaining momentum across Europe as households seek to all avenues to produce their own solar electricity. The solution consists of usually one or two solar PV modules, which can be plugged into a grounded home power socket. A common type of plug-in solar PV is ‘balcony solar.’ In some markets in Europe, plug-in PV can cover up to 25% of annual household electricity needs.
Michael Schmela, Director Market Intelligence at SolarPower Europe (he/him), said: “This first-of-a-kind report provides an in-depth analysis of the growth, opportunities, challenges, and regulatory landscape of the quickly expanding plug-in solar PV segment in Europe.”
The plug-in PV market is growing in Europe, though exact numbers are difficult to uncover. Germany leads the way with over 780,000 registered plug-in PV systems by the end of 2024. Estimates suggesting up to 4 million systems could be in use in Germany, many of which remain unregistered. Accompanying the plug-in solar growth, small-scale battery storage solutions (1-5 kWh) for plug-in are also on the rise in Europe, with the number of small batteries (less than 2 kWh capacity) increasing 24-fold between 2023 and 2024 in Germany.
The EU and national governments are increasingly recognising the possibilities of plug-in solar, with new policies emerging to match market realities. Belgium is expected to legalise plug-in solar in April 2025, while Germany has taken major steps to simplify grid registration for plug-in solar.
Leah Le Pénuizic, Project Manager for the report (she/her), said: “Importantly, with the rise of plug-in solar, Europe needs clear product standards and consistent installation guidelines to ensure safety, grid compatibility, and consumer confidence.”
The German regulator VDE is set to develop the first dedicated plug-in solar product standard, expected by end of 2025.
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Adrien Rodrigues
Senior Press and Communications Advisor
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