Fortunately, a Berlin startup is trying to change that.
We Do Solarwas founded in September 2021 by Karolina Attspodina and Qian Qin.
The panels come with mounting straps, a micro-inverter, and a plug.
They can be attached to a balcony railing or privacy screen.
Once installed, connected, and plugged in, you immediately start generating energy during the day.
Depending on positioning and weather, the electricity generated is equivalent to two to three-kilowatt hours.
Attspodina tells me that one-kilowatt hour is equal to 60 phone charges.
But the hardware can power more intensives items too, such as your washing machine or refrigerator.
It’s free, every week, in your inbox.
Empowering the traditionally excluded
Germany is no stranger to renewableenergy.
Attspodina tells me that she found that there were almost 200,000 DIY solutions that people build locally.
Effectively, this means they can be installed in huge numbers of rental properties.
The one stumbling block here though is cost.
But according to Attspodina, the German governments committed tosolar.
The allowed wattage for such residential panels has recently increased from 600 watts to 750 watts.
Theres a potential subsidy of up to 400, and the panels come free of VAT.
Even more interesting, you might exchange the panels for carbon credits.
For example, in Germany, people who purchase an electric car receiveC02 credits.
The company is also working to offer its services to business employee benefit programs.
We Do Solar has created a timely product at an opportune time.
The panels are manufactured in China, a country with a saturated solar market.
The future of this technology is bright though.
Its a noble dream and one I think we can all get onboard with.
Story byCate Lawrence
Cate Lawrence is an Australian tech journo living in Berlin.
