Programs · Balcony Solar Maryland
Balcony Solar Comes to Maryland
For over a decade, we've brought solar power to communities that the grid left behind. Now we're bringing that mission home. In 2026, Maryland passed the Utility RELIEF Act, making it legal for renters and homeowners alike to plug small solar systems — up to 1,200 watts — directly into a standard outlet. No roof required. No permits. Just a simple utility notification — which we handle for you. For the first time, solar is within reach for the millions of Marylanders who rent.
The problem
Solar for the people rooftops leave out
Rooftop solar has never been an option for renters or for families in apartments and multifamily housing — the very households that spend the largest share of their income on energy bills. Balcony solar changes that. A panel on a railing or patio plugs into the wall and starts cutting the electric bill immediately, and it moves with you when you do.
The launch
Our Maryland pilot
We're launching a balcony solar pilot focused on low- and moderate-income renters in Maryland, starting in Prince George's and Montgomery counties. The same approach we've refined across India and Puerto Rico — listen first, install carefully, verify the results — is coming to our home state.
The Pilot
25 homes. Real data. A model Maryland can scale.
Our pilot will install 25 plug-in solar systems for low- and moderate-income renters in Prince George's and Montgomery counties — at no cost to participating households.
Each installation includes:
A complete balcony solar kit — solar panels, a UL-listed inverter, and secure railing or patio mounting, sized well within Maryland's 1,200-watt legal limit.
Professional setup and safety verification — we handle delivery, installation, and the utility notification required under the Utility RELIEF Act; participants don't file paperwork or touch wiring.
Real-time monitoring on every pilot system — every kilowatt-hour is measured, so participants see their savings and Maryland sees the proof, backed by the same keep-it-running maintenance commitment we bring to all 300 of our solar projects.
This is a demonstration pilot, and that's deliberate. We're not just installing 25 systems — we're documenting exactly what it takes to bring balcony solar to renters safely and affordably, then publishing the results: energy generated, bills lowered, emissions avoided, and a step-by-step playbook any Maryland community can follow. The 25 households come first; what they prove benefits thousands more.
Who's eligible: Maryland renters in Prince George's or Montgomery counties with a balcony, patio, or railing that gets good sun. Priority goes to income-eligible households in designated Energy Resiliency Communities. Landlords cannot prohibit qualifying systems under Maryland law — and we work with property managers directly to make hosting easy.
Be first in line.
The pilot is coming to Prince George's and Montgomery counties. Tell us who you are and we'll notify you as it opens.
Want to fund the first installations instead? Fund the Pilot →
