What the Growth of Plug-in Solar Means for Consumer Safety

Key Points

• Plug-in solar, also known as balcony solar, can enable homeowners and renters to generate their own electricity.
• The UL Solutions plug-in solar testing and certification program is based on UL 3700, the Outline of Investigation for Interactive Plug-In Photovoltaic Equipment and Systems.
• Plug-in solar safety depends on multiple factors, including evaluating the complete system.

Plug-in solar, also known as balcony solar, is a technology that can enable homeowners and renters to generate their own electricity. UL Solutions has launched a testing and certification program for plug-in solar , establishing a clear, dedicated evaluation framework that can help enable the safer adoption of this technology.

UL Solutions ' program uses UL 3700, the Outline of Investigation for Interactive Plug-In Photovoltaic Equipment and Systems. UL 3700 defines construction, performance and labeling criteria tailored to plug-in solar systems, offering manufacturers a reliable foundation for designing balcony solar products that consistently meet safety and performance requirements.

As adoption of plug-in solar increases, Ken Boyce, vice president of principal engineering at UL Solutions, recently joined the Energy Central podcast to discuss these power-generating systems. Boyce emphasized that safe adoption depends on evaluating the complete system, accounting for its interaction with building wiring and establishing clear requirements for grid integration. The podcast discussion also covered potential risks to consumers and the power grid and ways to mitigate those risks.

This podcast episode is available on Energy Central's YouTube page.