How Balcony Solar Panels Boost EU Climate Action
by Susanne Reiff, GIZ/EUKI
Migle Maniusyte, 39, lives in a large apartment building in Lithuania’s capital Vilnius. At first sight, all the apartments look quite similar: rows of identical balconies stretching across several storeys. But one balcony stands out. Mounted to its railing are two sleek, 1×2 metre black panels. It catches the attention of neighbours and passers-by alike. As the first balcony solar power plant in the neighbourhood, it made Migle a pioneer of clean, secure and self-generated energy.
One afternoon in September 2024, Migle Maniusyte was scrolling through the latest posts in the neighbourhood’s Facebook group. Amid updates about garbage collection, complaints about noise and discussions about untidy stairwells, one post caught her attention. Ruta Trainyte from the Lithuanian Consumers Alliance (LCA) was looking for a volunteer to have a solar power plant installed on their balcony as a pilot within the EUKI project SUNRISE – Prosumer Solar Energy.
The project helps to reduce energy consumption within the building sector, contributing to the European Green Deal’s objective to make Europe climate-neutral by 2050. Photovoltaics have great potential for both small- and large-scale applications. Panels are quite easy to install and require little maintenance.
A Small Amount of Energy Independence
Migle Maniusyte had never heard of solar panels for balconies before, only for single-family houses or large commercial buildings. She was immediately attracted to the idea of producing her own energy on her balcony next to her tiny herb garden. “We live in uncertain times. Lithuania shares a border with Russia and the Russian war in Ukraine is not far away,” she says. “Even a small amount of energy independence makes me feel a bit more in control. In addition, solar energy is so much more climate-friendly than oil or gas.”
Energy security and clean energy are a concern not only to Migle, but to many people in Lithuania. The country is committed to achieving more energy independence and pushing the green energy transition at the same time. The SUNRISE – Prosumer Solar Energy project supported these ambitions from 2022 to 2025, with a focus on climate action. It put consumers at the heart of the low-carbon transition by unlocking private investment in renewable energies. Citizens were encouraged to become prosumers, creating financial, environmental and security benefits for households and society at large.
On sunny days, Migle Maniusyte’s small power plant generates four to five kilowatt-hours of energy. That’s more than enough to run the dishwasher and the washing machine and charge her electronic devices. “Since I have had the balcony plant, I have changed my habits,” she says. An app on her mobile phone tells her how much energy is currently available and she plans her energy use accordingly, if possible. This allows her to reduce her grid energy consumption by up to 50 per cent.
Reducing Energy Bills was Never a Main Concern, but it is an Additional Benefit
The idea of a balcony power plant became even more attractive to Migle Maniusyte when she found out that her participation in the pilot involved much more than the installation of the solar panels. She attended information events about green energy, how the panels work and which benefits she could expect from the installation. ALCO had asked her to share her experience and so she got involved in advocacy activities and became part of the ALCO network, which addresses numerous consumer issues – always with a focus on sustainable solutions.
Being a pioneer was not without its concerns, however. Migle Maniusyte wondered how complex the installation would be. She also worried about her neighbours’ reactions. Would they object? After all, the panel would change the appearance of the building. And would she have to deal with a lot of paperwork? In the end, her concerns proved unfounded. The installation was straightforward and the reactions overwhelmingly positive. Curious neighbours stopped to ask questions about the technology, the installation process and the electricity it produced. Inspired by her example, four neighbours have now installed balcony solar panels of their own. “My example showed them that solar energy production on our balconies is a good investment,” she says.
Today, two years after the installation, Migle Maniusyte looks back with satisfaction: “Replying to that Facebook post was absolutely the right decision. I was fortunate to receive the first panel in the neighbourhood, but even more importantly, I was able to inspire others.”
A technology that seemed unusual at first has begun to slowly spread through the neighbourhoods of Vilnius and other European cities. Perhaps, in a few years’ time, balcony solar power plants will no longer be the exception but part of everyday urban life. SUN BOX, a follow-up EUKI project of SUNRISE, is helping to make this a reality by removing legal, financial and technical barriers that prevent residents in multi-family buildings from using renewable energy.
Migle’s transformation into a renewable energy producer shows that the green transition towards our shared EU climate goals begins at home in Lithuania, Germany, Spain or Bulgaria, and that thousands of small initiatives can add up to lasting change.