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The UK government has announced that ‘plug-in’ solar panels will be available in retailers within months, offering households an opportunity to reduce their energy bills and reliance on fossil fuels.
These low-cost panels, which can be placed on balconies or outdoor areas, can be connected directly to a standard mains socket, reducing the need for installation cost. The devices are already popular across Europe, particularly in Germany, where around half a million devices are plugged in each year.
The government said that it is working with service providers such as Octopus Energy, retailers including Amazon and Lidl, as well as manufacturers including Ecoflow, to roll them out to the UK.
According to the government, the devices could save households ‘significant amounts’ on their energy bills, at a time when the conflict in the Middle East is pushing up oil and gas prices, as well as the cost of living.
Alongside the plug-in solar rollout, the government has also confirmed new rules under the Future Homes Standard, which will require the majority of new homes in England to be built with solar panels and low-carbon heating systems as standard.
These measures could save families up to £830 per year on their energy bills, compared to a standard home with an EPC rating of C, and cut emissions by at least 75%.
“The government is determined to fight people’s corner in this crisis, which is why we have acted to prevent unfair practices like price gouging and provided immediate help for the most vulnerable facing spiralling heating oil prices,” commented Ed Miliband, energy secretary.
“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.
Greg Jackson, founder and CEO of Octopus Energy, added that interest in solar has increased 50% in the UK since the conflict in the Middle East commenced.
“Every solar panel, heat pump and battery cuts bills and boosts Britain’s energy independence,” he commented. “And the government’s latest steps can help cut the costs of electrification.” Read more here.
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