Can you actually install solar panels in an apartment?

I've been thinking about my terrace setup, where I currently have bamboo shades hanging down while I'm away at work during the day... I was wondering if it might be feasible to switch to something more akin to those glass enclosures people use on boats... but instead of standard windows that slide left to right, what if they were integrated with solar cells... essentially transparent solar panels... so that while I'm out, the area remains enclosed, yet from roughly 1 PM to 4 or 5 PM, they could actively harvest
electricity... does anyone know if small-scale kits actually exist for generating power from such limited surface areas... assuming I only have enough room on the deck for a few extra components... which specific devices would be required, what kind of investment we're looking at, and whether this whole concept is just a bit foolish...

I'd appreciate any insight from someone who understands the technicalities of this kind of setup...

best regards

I’m a total novice when it comes to solar panels, but my hunch is they need to be angled just right to catch maximum sunlight. Plus, since they aren't transparent, having them on a balcony would pretty much turn the whole space into a dark cave once you close things up.
Now, I'll step back and let the experts weigh in.

The math just doesn't work out economically. If you're only looking at the cost of the battery versus its lifespan, the unit itself ends up costing more than the actual energy it’ll ever store.
It’s really just a necessary evil for places without grid access, like a remote cabin in the Catskills.

Does anyone here have an issue with merging this into this specific thread
?

It’s questionable whether it even makes sense in an area without grid access. Solar setups are outrageously expensive—and honestly, why does it feel like wind is the only alternative people actually bother with? Plus, they aren't exactly transparent about the costs. Heating water might be worth looking into since those systems are cheaper, but I doubt anyone needs much hot water during a heatwave, unless you’re running a vacation rental or something.

Kimberly Nguyen said:Does anyone here have an issue with merging this into this specific thread
?

I’m totally fine with that. It’s basically the same topic, just with a few small tweaks.