In the US, fairly rapid growth of solar generation is inevitable because the economics are so compelling. The same thing is on the verge of happening with batteries. But in both cases, there are factors that restrict the rate of growth unnecessarily. And I’m not thinking of the current administration in Washington (although it is very hostile to renewables and is erecting barriers where it can).

Two of the main factors that slow the adoption of solar and batteries are the red tape involved complying with local zoning and electrical codes, and the need to employ a licensed electrician to handle the installation. Those issues have made solar and batteries far more expensive in the US than they need to be. They have been overcome in some other countries, and there may be ways to address those issues fairly quickly even here in the US.

Amazing growth of solar in Pakistan. In some countries, people have simply taken matters into their own hands and installed solar systems—in many cases, systems that don’t connect to the grid. A remarkable example of this is Pakistan, where the peak grid demand on hot summer days reaches about 30 gigawatts. In just 2024, Pakistanis installed 15 gigawatts of solar panels—a huge addition to the electricity supply.

And these aren’t big corporate solar farms. They are mostly rooftop systems installed in residential areas. Pakistanis, who have been suffering from severe increases in the cost of grid electricity, are taking advantage of cheap solar panels from China.

Local solar in Africa. In many parts of Africa, low-cost rooftop solar units are being used to charge cell phones and (with a small battery) to provide some nighttime lighting. Small pay-as-you-go systems make solar affordable, even in poor regions. Local companies are providing these systems, which are generally off-grid (and often in areas where there is no grid at all). As in Pakistan, low-cost panels from China are being imported in steadily increasing quantities.

These examples show how low-cost panels are changing the availability of electricity in developing countries, as local installers take things into their own hands. But people in the advanced economies also want to be able to add solar and batteries to their homes with a minimum of fuss, and that’s now starting to happen.

Balcony solar in Germany. Over a million people in Germany have installed “balcony solar”. This is the term for a small solar system that can be hung on a balcony or carport and plugged into any outlet in a home and provide electricity for the home’s appliances. No permits and no electrician are required.

Home ownership is less common in Germany than it is in the US, and renters can’t install rooftop solar. But they can install balcony solar, and they can take the system with them if they move. The amount of power generated is relatively small—typically a tenth of what a rooftop system might generate—but it can make a noticeable impact on the monthly utility bill.

What about the US? Balcony solar is barely available in the US, but a few companies are starting to offer it. The systems are small enough not to trigger the requirements for professional installation and permitting, but still big enough to run a small appliance or two.

And one new startup, Pila Energy, is now offering battery systems with a similar “no permit, no installation” flavor. These are small batteries, usually one for each appliance, that store up electricity to be used if the power goes out. There’s no real installation: you just plug the appliance into the battery, and plug the battery into the outlet. If the owner has a “time-of-use” rate for electricity, the battery can be set up to charge when the price is cheapest.  

In the case of both balcony solar and plug-in batteries, some electrical codes and regulations will have to change before widespread adoption will be possible. But those changes are coming.

What all these examples show is that people everywhere are getting more opportunities to get the electricity they need without as much hassle with regulations and big power companies. As solar and batteries continue to decline in price (except in the US, where tariffs have caused the opposite), this trend is sure to continue.