Balconies in European towns now feature compact solar panels that allow residents to feed electricity directly into their apartments without any effort. People hang one or two panels from the balcony railings or place them on ledges using simple brackets. It’s all connected to a small inverter that sits between the panels and a conventional electrical socket in the house. When the sun hits the panels, it generates direct current, which the inverter converts to alternating power, which feeds directly into the mains. No roof work, no contractor visits, and no major renovations are required.