TECHNOLOGY
Germany has quickly become a leader in renewable energy. One recent step to boost clean electricity, especially in crowded cities where space is limited, was allowing people to install solar panels on their balconies.
These portable panels can then be plugged straight into a home’ s electrical system, often without needing a permit. Now, more countries are looking at approving the use of balcony solar to help boost energy security.
The Balkonkraftwerk, or balcony power plant, revolution in Germany shows how the solar industry is finding new ways to grow beyond large solar projects alone.
The state of solar Global solar capacity surpassed 3TW in 2025, capping off a decade of rapid growth. The sector had reached 2TW in 2024 and 1TW in 2022. Today, solar supplies almost 10 % of the world’ s electricity, up from 3 % five years ago.
SolarPower Europe predicts that global solar capacity could reach 6.6TW by 2030.
However, this projection is lower than an earlier forecast of 7.1TW, reflecting the challenges of a fast-growing sector: grid bottlenecks, insufficient storage and limited system flexibility.
Slow permit approvals, a lack of funding and concerns about supply chains show that the solar industry needs to keep innovating and look for new places to install panels.
KEY SOLAR INNOVATIONS
Floating solar This technology places solar panels on water, such as reservoirs, lakes, and hydroelectric dams. Using existing water sites, floating solar complements land-based systems and demonstrates how different energy solutions can work together.
Benefits include
• Higher efficiency: The cooling effect of water can boost solar panel performance by up to 15 % compared to panels on land.
112 July 2026