Europeans are making the most of cheap solar panels – by creating green garden fences
Europeans are transforming their garden fences into mini solar farms. But is the trend a gimmick or a genius solution to energy independence? Solar is already cushioning Europe from the crippling costs of...
Europeans are transforming their garden fences into mini solar farms. But is the trend a gimmick or a genius solution to energy independence?
Solar is already cushioning Europe from the crippling costs of fossil fuels amid the war on Iran and has been described as a “shining star” of the EU’s energy transition.
According to a recent analysis by SolarPower Europe, harnessing sunlight for electricity has already saved the continent a staggering €12.8 billion by lowering gas imports since the conflict began.
This works out at an average of €136 million per day – despite Europe’s outdated grid currently stalling around €100 billion worth of clean energy projects.
Europe’s solar surge
Interest in traditional rooftop solar panels spiked following Iran’s stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz – a fossil fuel chokepoint that usually carries around one-fifth of global oil supplies.
In Germany, renewable energy firm Enpal BV saw inquiries for solar panels rise by 30 per cent after the conflict began, while solar brand 1KOMMA5° GmbH has also reported an almost doubling of interest in solar.
UK energy firm EON saw interest in solar soar by 23 per cent between 23 February and 1 March, before surging a further 63 per cent between 2 and 8 March.
But it's not just rooftop solar that is gaining momentum. The UK recently became the latest European country to lift restrictions on plug-in solar, confirming that low-cost panels will soon be available from budget retailers like Lidl and Iceland.
Now, Europeans are getting even more creative – by installing solar fences in their gardens.
The pros and cons of solar fences
Solar fences can maximise land use by combining a “physical boundary with renewable energy generation”, according to Jacksons Fencing, a company that sells fences fitted with solar panels in the UK and France.
One of its biggest selling points is that it removes the need for costly installations that often require scaffolding. Solar fences are also space-efficient, which is ideal for homeowners who have limited roof space or unsuitable roofs for panel installations.
These futuristic fences can also be scaled up gradually, allowing Europeans to install panels over time rather than all at once.
However, the panels capture less sunlight than they do on roofs due to their vertical positioning. According to Bluetti Power, under optimal conditions a typical solar fence can generate between 100 and 150 watts per linear metre.
For a 10-metre-long wall, this could translate to approximately one to 1.5 kW of power. With around five hours of peak sunlight, this would generate between 5 and 7.5 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per day.
While this isn’t enough to power a full home, it could help run essential household items like an energy-efficient refrigerator or an LED TV.
In comparison, an average domestic solar power typically produces 2 kWh of electricity per day.
“Performance [also] depends on positioning, shading and available boundary length,” Maguire says.
“In some areas, permissions or regulations may influence installation, particularly in sensitive or listed environments.”
German solar energy firm Next2Sun has completed 479 solar fence projects across six European countries, covering some 10km.
The company says that vertical photovoltaic systems (PVs) can cost as little as €250 – but prices can be higher if households want a more natural design. Costs can be amortised within eight years, putting them at a similar investment level as traditional rooftop panels.
The future of solar fences
Next2Sun doesn’t just build solar fences for domestic properties, but also offers vertical panels for farms and commercial sites such as airports.
“Solar fencing is suited to infrastructure and commercial environments, where long stretches of boundaries already exist and remain unused from an energy perspective,” Maguire says.
“Warehouses, logistics centres and business parks often have large perimeters where solar fencing can support on-site energy demand – while schools, utilities and local authorities could integrate solar fencing into sustainability programmes.”
Maguire adds that while considerations around durability, safety standards, glare and maintenance in high traffic environments are needed, the concept “aligns strongly with a broader push” to integrate renewable energy into existing infrastructure.
