BalkonSolar e.V., a German non-profit advocating for balcony (plug-in) solar systems, has written to EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen to express serious concerns about the proposed changes to the international standard IEC 60364-7-751.
The draft standard would effectively ban connecting small power generation devices (like plug-in solar panels) to home circuits via ordinary household plugs (e.g., Schuko), requiring instead a special, incompatible connector. This contradicts EU policy goals to make small solar systems easily accessible for citizens, especially renters and condo owners.
European Comission Draft Notice mentioning pluginpv
The new standard risks undermining national and EU efforts to expand citizen-led renewable energy.
We ask the Commisison to use its influence at the IEC to adjust the wording so that standard plugs can still be used where national safety norms allow.
BalkonSolar e.V. has promoted safe plug-in solar use since 2018 and played a role in securing legal rights for tenants and condo owners in Germany to install these systems.