First solar-powered balcony facade completed in Finland using Lumon’s eRailing technology

Cost savings for housing companies and more sustainable urban construction

Lumon has implemented the first solar energy-collecting balcony railing in a renovation project in Lahti, Finland. Lumon’s new eRailing technology combines the benefits of solar panels with an aesthetically pleasing railing solution, offering housing companies the opportunity to reduce their electricity bills without significant additional investments.

Promising first user experiences

The Lumon eRailing project at housing company Aleksanterinkatu 35 in Lahti began in 2022 as part of a facade and balcony renovation. The design process considered both urban aesthetics and energy efficiency. The initial user experiences have been promising, allowing the housing company to utilize its own electricity production as part of the property’s energy consumption.

“The city of Lahti had a positive attitude towards utilizing renewable energy through the eRailing solution. Since our building facade faces south, eRailing was a natural choice. Everyone in our housing company has responded positively to the solution, and we have received only positive feedback. We are eagerly awaiting the first production data,” says Lasse Aaltonen, chairman of the housing company’s board.

“We want to offer housing companies and builders a new way to harness solar energy without complex installations or large additional costs. Balconies are often an underutilized opportunity for solar energy collection, and eRailing integrates this potential into everyday energy solutions,” says Petri Haaponiemi, Project Manager at Lumon Suomi Oy.

Solar energy without large investments

Lumon eRailing helps housing companies reduce their energy consumption and can also support eligibility for green housing loans. In new construction projects, it can improve a building’s energy efficiency rating (E-value) and enable more efficient land use. When installed as part of a facade renovation, the electricity generated by eRailing can cover up to one-third of the average two-room apartment’s electricity consumption in Finland, which is equivalent to approximately 85 sauna sessions in an electric sauna.

“Reducing the carbon footprint of construction and housing is essential, and innovation plays a key role in this effort. Lumon eRailing integrates solar energy into urban construction without compromising building aesthetics or requiring major structural modifications. The safe eRailing system is a significant step toward more energy-efficient homes and a more sustainable urban environment,” states Risto Kivioja, CTO of Lumon Invest Oy.

Availability of the eRailing product depends on the market. Please consult a local representative for more information.

Calculation: Estimated annual electricity production of Lumon eRailing for a 6 m² balcony: 622 kWh (Kouvola, Finland, south-facing direction).