Unlike traditional solar panels, which can be costly and complex to install, plug-in panels are plugged directly into a mains socket like any other device(Image: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Plug-in solar panels will be sold in shops "within months" the Government has announced alongside confirming new homes will be built with both solar and heat pumps installed. These plug-in solar panels use an ordinary plug so can be connected to locations at home such as balconies or fences.
They are already common in Germany and the Government is working with Amazon and Lidl, alongside manufacturers including EcoFlow, to bring them to the UK – so shoppers could soon see solar panels in the Lidl middle aisle and other outlets.
The panels cut the amount of electricity being drawn from the grid, lowering bills and helping reduce the UK’s dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets for its electricity supplies, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) said.
The Government estimates that a typical UK home could save £70 to £110 a year on their energy bills from plug-in solar(Image: John Keeble/Getty Images)
The move to speed up the delivery of plug-in solar is happening as new rules come into force to implement the “future homes standard”, building regulations that will make solar panels and clean heating standard in new homes.
Under the new standards, homes will be built with heat pumps or linked to heating networks, rather than gas boilers, and the majority of homes – with some exceptions – will be built with onsite renewable electricity generation, which is likely to be mostly solar.
The long-awaited implementation of the future homes standard comes a decade after measures to ensure homes were built to net-zero carbon standards were scrapped.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “The Iran war has once again shown our drive for clean power is essential for our energy security so we can escape the grip of fossil fuel markets we don’t control. Whether through solar panels fitted as standard on new homes or making it possible for people to purchase plug-in solar in shops, we are determined to roll out clean power so we can give our country energy sovereignty.”
Under the new standards, homes will be built with heat pumps or linked to heating networks, rather than gas boilers(Image: Emily Beament/PA Wire)
Housing Secretary Steve Reed said: “Building 1.5 million new homes also means building high-quality homes that are cheaper to run and warmer to live in. As we make the switch to clean, homegrown energy, today’s standard is what the future of housing can and should look like.
“Not only will these changes protect hardworking families from shocks abroad but will also slash hundreds of pounds off their energy bills every year.”
The moves have been welcomed by the energy sector, with Dhara Vyas, industry body Energy UK’s chief executive, describing the future homes standard as a “landmark moment” for clean energy in Britain. “New homes built under this standard will benefit from clean heating solutions and solar, protecting households from volatile gas prices and putting energy security within the home itself.
“Combined with higher fabric efficiency standards, these homes will be warmer and cheaper to run – offering real and tangible change in people’s homes.”
She added that the new standards would give businesses the long-term certainty they needed to invest in manufacturing, scale up supply chains and build a skilled workforce.
Plug-in solar panels are generally low-cost panels households can install themselves on their balconies or outdoor spaces. Unlike traditional solar panels, which can be costly and complex to install, these panels are plugged directly into a mains socket like any other device.
The appliances reduce the amount of electricity a household draws from the grid, thereby cutting a family’s energy bills. Plug-in panels do not require installation, so the only upfront cost is the purchase. Panels are currently on the market from about £400.
The Government estimates that a typical UK home could save £70 to £110 a year on their energy bills from plug-in solar, meaning a family could make their money back in between four to six years. As it is common for solar panels to have a 15-year lifespan it would means households should expect around nine to 10 years of profit after they've paid for the initial cost.
The Government has said it is already working with Lidl and Amazon, alongside manufacturers such as EcoFlow, to bring plug-in solar to the UK market. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has promised that the solar panels will be available in shops “within months”, while EcoFlow has said it hopes people will be able to use them this summer.
An EcoFlow solar panel is already being sold on Amazon for £449. The EcoFlow STREAM Balcony Solar System, 800W Micro Inverter, 2 × 450W PV Solar Panels, Smart Grid-Feed Inverter with Wi-Fi & App Control for Balcony, Garden, Roof & Vertical Walls currently has an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 based on 21 reviews.
Georgina Hall, corporate affairs director at Lidl GB said: “At Lidl GB, we are committed to making sustainable living affordable for everyone and we welcome the Government’s move to modernise regulations in the UK. Updating the regulatory landscape for this ‘plug-and-play’ technology is a positive step towards empowering British households to manage their energy costs and support the nation’s net-zero ambitions.”
Lorna Wallace-Smith, head of UK Communications for EcoFlow, said: “Allowing plug-and-play solar is a very positive step for expanding access to renewable energy in the UK. Seeing these systems available in stores by summer would be a major win for households, enabling people to take advantage of the longer, brighter days and start generating their own clean electricity straight away.
“For many households – particularly those living in flats or rented homes – solar has not always been straightforward. Plug-and-play systems remove that barrier, making it far easier to get started.”
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