Solar is becoming one of the world’s fastest-growing forms of renewable energy, cushioning Europe from the crippling costs of fossil fuel reliance.
A recent analysis from SolarPower Europe found that harnessing sunlight for energy saved the continent more than €100 million per day in March by lowering demand for imported gas. If gas prices remain high due to geopolitical tensions related to the war on Iran, solar capacity could save Europe more than €67 billion in 2026 alone.
While traditional rooftop panels and large-scale farms make up the majority of solar power generation, plug-in alternatives have recently been cast under the spotlight.
Popular in Germany, plug-in solar panels are small devices that can be attached to external surfaces such as balconies, terraces and shed roofs.
The power generated from plug-in solar, which doesn’t need to be professionally installed in certain European countries, can be used directly through a mains socket like any other device.
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The main advantage of plug-in solar is that it avoids the hefty upfront costs of traditional rooftop solar, and is suitable for those who don’t own their home, or who live in shared accommodation where permanent panels aren’t permitted.
While plug-in solar panels are considerably cheaper, costing as little as €200 in Germany, their output is significantly smaller than rooftop panels – meaning they’ll have less impact on your energy bills.
The UK is the latest European country to greenlight plug-in solar panels being sold in supermarkets to help households cut their energy bills.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband says the move will drive clean, homegrown power to help the UK reduce its reliance on volatile fossil fuel markets, and boost the nation’s energy sovereignty.
“Plug-in solar panels are expected to cost £400 to £500 (around €462 to €577) a panel, with each one estimated to save the average UK household between £70 and £110 (€80 and €127) a year, so payback isn’t immediate,” Natalie Mathie, an energy expert at Uswitch.com, tells Euronews Earth.
“Household savings will differ per home and will also be determined by the panels’ output. Poor orientation, shade and unfortunate UK weather will all play a part in limiting how much power they can generate.”
Mathie explains that for maximum savings, households would need to run their appliances during the sunniest hours of the day. Plug-in solar systems are designed mainly for using what you generate, rather than sending excess electricity generation to the grid in exchange for money (like traditional rooftop solar).
The UK is yet to confirm the exact power wattage that plug-in solar panels will have, but existing EU ratings tend to generate between 400 and 500 watts. In Germany, plug-in solar devices are allowed to have a maximum inverter output of 800 watts.
Mathie says that this can generate electricity to help power always-on appliances such as fridges, wifi routers and other standby devices – as well as energy-efficient appliances such as slow cookers (which use around 300 watts on average depending on their size).
“They may not produce enough power to run a 1.4kW air fryer, or a plug-in air conditioning unit, which can use about 1kW, ” the expert adds.
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