Plug-in solar panels not allowed in apartment buildings

Plug-in panels, also called plug & play solar panels, are compact panels that can simply be plugged into an outlet. They make solar energy accessible to people without their own roof and thus seem ideal for apartments. Residents can attach them to a terrace or balustrade, for example.

However, plug-in panels in apartment buildings encounter several problems. First and foremost, there are aesthetic rules. Just as a satellite dish or an air conditioning unit may not simply be hung on the facade, loose solar panels usually do not fit into the uniform appearance of the building. In most co-ownership regulations, this is therefore prohibited, unless the general meeting explicitly agrees.

In addition, there are safety risks. Because residents can connect the panels themselves, without a professional, there is a risk of incorrect placement or insufficient anchoring. The impact on the electricity grid also raises questions. The devices must therefore comply with the Synergrid standard C10/11 and carry a CE label. In addition, there is a registration requirement with Fluvius: for installations above 800 Watt or without a digital meter, registration is always mandatory.

The government does consider plug-in panels as ordinary technical constructions, so no permit is needed, except for protected heritage. However, the permission of the Association of Co-Owners (VME) remains crucial. During general meetings, most VMEs vote against, from the conviction that the panels disfigure the building and cause conflicts.

Jurists do not always agree on whether a ban on purely aesthetic grounds is legally sound. Probably case law will show how far a VME can go in this. In practice, most buildings today choose a simple position: no individual plug-in panels, but joint investments in collective solar panels on the roof. That power can be used for the common parts or distributed to residents via energy sharing.

In short: anyone living in an apartment cannot simply hang a plug-in panel. The best remains to organize sustainable energy in consultation and collectively, so that everyone can safely and fairly enjoy solar energy.