Plug-in solar panels to be allowed in UK homes from next month

Plug-in solar available to UK households from August

UK consumers will be able to purchase plug-in solar panels for their homes from next month. As of 27^th August, major retailers including B&Q, Currys, Wickes, and ASDA, will be able to sell the devices which are designed to be used on balconies, terraces, and other small outdoor spaces. The date was confirmed in the recently published Plugs & Sockets legislation[i].

Plug-in solar is already widely used by households across Europe, with Germany seeing around half a million new devices plugged in per year. The free solar power can be used directly through a mains socket like any other device, without an installation cost, thereby reducing the amount of electricity taken from the grid and cutting energy bills.

Earlier this year the UK government announced that it was exploring legalising the sale of plug-in solar panels[ii], launching a consultation with retailers including Lidl and Iceland, alongside manufacturers such as EcoFlow, which ended in June. Subsequently, the consultation found that plug-in solar devices are expected to retail from as little as £400 ($532) and are expected to cut household energy bills by between £70 to £110 ($93 to $147) per annum.

The announcements have been largely welcomed by those within the industry; Greg Jackson, Founder and CEO of Octopus Energy explained that since the conflict in the Middle East began, interest in solar has increased by 50%, he added that “Every solar panel, heat pump and battery cuts bills and boosts Britain’s energy independence. And the government’s latest steps can help cut the costs of electrification. With solar, many homes can produce and use their own electricity and cut their bills further by selling the excess back to us.”[iii]

Chris Norbury, chief executive of E.ON UK, said: “Cutting red tape on plug-in solar is an encouraging move and we will help ensure it works alongside, or as part of, whole-home solutions that genuinely empower people to take control of their energy use and cut bills.”[iv]

Experts caution against putting speed ahead of safety

However, industry experts have cautioned that the UK government must ensure the necessary regulatory, technical and product safety framework is fully in place. Without that foundation, there is a serious risk of avoidable hazards in homes, uncertainty for the electricity system, and lasting damage to public confidence in the energy transition.

A joint statement from the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA), Electrical Safety First (ESF), the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), NICEIC, and SELECT has stressed that public safety must be the first principle in any rollout of plug-in solar units. The group stresses that they support the aim of making clean electricity more affordable and easier for people to use, however their message to Government is clear; do not put speed ahead of safety.

Gary Parker, Deputy Director of Technical at ECA, said:

“People are under real pressure from energy bills, so it is easy to see why plug-in solar could look attractive. But these products must not be rushed into homes before the safety questions have been answered. They need to be properly tested, clearly labelled, and backed by standards that the public can trust”[v]

Parker adds: “Most UK homes were not designed for power to flow both ways through a standard socket-outlet. That matters. It raises questions about fire safety, circuit protection, product quality and the effect on the electricity network. Government cannot afford to treat those risks as an afterthought.”[vi]