What else? You need funding so that you can pay the instructors and helpers.
Participants are usually either families or people 50+ who want to find out about solar and later buy larger systems, either professional roof top #solar systems or battery #pluginsolar.

You need and you generate attention. Often people try out a small upcycling system and then move on to larger systems

RE: https://mastodon.world/@MachDeinenStrom/116805321989183212

Our chair @sbamueller went to the #plugin conference of Bundesverband #Steckersolar and gave presentation about the upcycling old solar panels to new #pluginsolar systems.

What do we need?
- used solar panels that are not to far away
- new microinverters
- solar multimeters to measure the panels

keep in mind as long as the panels look good they will still supply about 90% of the original capacity.

- instructors who tells people what to do

- tools: such as crimping tools, cable strippers, cable cutters and of course the right MC4 compatible connectors.

Buuuuut challenges remain!

- Are the new large #plugin battery systems legal? How do manufacturers advertise them?

- We still have lots of #landlords trying to prevent tenants from using #pluginsolar with absurd arguments

- the price of mounting needs go go down and we need it to be certified

#Pluginsolar has transformed from #solarpunk (see the punk on the image) with something that is in a grey zone to a thing tenants have a right to have!
(Sorry @BlumeEvolution we are not solarpunk anymore but Solar Mainstream!)
There is a technical norm (not that we like all the details, but its here) and its "normal".

We couldn't have achieved this without good products from manufactures that are simple, reliable, safe, ...

RE: https://freiburg.social/@sbamueller/116800151256204443

So what did I tell #Hoymiles about #pluginsolar in Germany? Here is my presentation.

We have now 4-5 Mio #pluginsolar systems in 🇩🇪, there are about 5,07 Mio motorcycles, so nearly as common.

~10% of Households have #balconysolar
½ are with a battery
Mounting exists for nearly all situations:
- thick concrete balconies
- glass balconies
- walls
- fences
- flat roofs
You name it and these are getting better.
We calculate that nearly all #pluginsolar Systems are economical beneficial for the user.

As our last speaker at #PlugInSolarConference 2026, Elisabeth Knepper presents her Master Thesis on the social impact of #PlugInSolar. Short answer: It is tremendous!
Find the study here:
https://machdeinenstrom.de/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Thesis_Knepper_impacts_plug-in_solar.pdf
With this picture we conclude this year's #PlugInSolarConference. Thanks to the attendees from so many countries joining us, to the fantastic speakers for the insights and to the team from bundesverband-steckersolar.de for the hard work.
The #PlugInSolar revolution has only just begun!
One of our #PluginSolarConference Highlights: Marlon Starkloff from jakkaru.de shows the #PlugInSolar industry how to #hack a #Microinverter. #cybersecurity is a main focus for #criticalindrastructure and mass Plug-In Solar is no exception.
Sebastian Müller from @balkonsolar Verein is presenting their many projects in grassroots work at #PlugInSolarConference, including a #PlugInSolar upcycling-record.
Fantastic panel at #PlugInSolarConference: We call for an EU wide harmonization of #PlugInSolar regulation! Only a level playing field in #Europe makes for a strong, innovative and resilient market!
#PlugInSolarEU