Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Belgium is launching plug-in solar panels for balconies, starting on April 17, 2025. Energy Minister Zuhal Demir supports this with an 800-watt limit per household to ensure safety and efficiency.
According to the officials, Belgium is making it easier for people to use solar energy. New plug-in solar panels, also called balcony solar panels, are now available. These small panels can be easily put up on balconies, windows, or small outdoor spaces. They mentioned that people who rent or don’t have a roof or garden can now use solar energy.
The panels can be bought in stores and connected to the electricity grid starting on April 17th, 2025. The Energy Minister, Depraetere, thinks this is a good way for people to save money on their electricity bills and help the environment. By letting more people use solar energy, Belgium is taking steps towards using more sustainable energy sources.
How will Belgium’s 800W solar panel limit impact households?
Officials mentioned that while new solar panels are great, there are rules to make sure they’re used safely. If people have an old-fashioned meter, they need to register their solar panels with the government. Then, the electricity company will install a new digital meter within 3 months.
This new meter will keep track of how much electricity people use and how much their solar panels make. Any extra energy their panels create can be sent back to the grid, helping Belgium use more renewable energy. They mentioned that these safety measures protect both people and the electricity system.
“This way, they can also conclude a feed-in contract with a supplier and be compensated for the power injected into the grid,”
Says Depraetere.
If people already have a digital meter, it will automatically track how much electricity their new solar panels make and use. They don’t need to register their panels. The digital meter will send information about the solar panel’s energy production to the electricity company.
To keep people and the electricity grid safe, the Energy Minister wants to limit how much power each home can get from solar panels. She wants to set a limit of 800 watts per household, which means most homes can only have 2 solar panels. She said this is enough power for most apartments and smaller houses.
According to Depraetere, even though the solar panels on the market are safe, the limit provides extra protection against fires or overloads. Other countries have similar limits, so Belgium is following international safety standards.
