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Across Europe, a new wave of smart home technology is making it easier for people to generate, store and use electricity – from ‘plug-in’ solar and battery to new-build homes with energy efficiency built into their very foundations
From balcony solar panels that plug in like an everyday appliance, to compact batteries designed to work with dynamic tariffs, ‘plug-and-play’ energy devices are opening up flexibility to more households – including people who can’t install rooftop solar.
In simple terms, plug-in devices are built to connect safely to a standard electrical circuit with minimal hassle. For plug-in solar, that usually means a small photovoltaic (PV) system – often designed for balconies or gardens – feeding power into a home’s internal wiring via approved equipment. For plug-in batteries, it means compact storage that can charge at off-peak times when electricity is cheaper, then power appliances when demand – and prices – go up, without major building work.
In the UK, government proposals to make plug-in solar easier to adopt could open up new options for households to cut bills and make better use of home-grown power. We welcome steps that offer households whole-home solutions that genuinely empower people to take control of their energy use and cut bills while ensuring safety, consumer protection and clear standards keep pace with innovation.
Whether it’s giving customers more control through innovative time-of-use tariffs or helping people to benefit from generating and storing energy at home via ‘steerable assets’ (that’s industry jargon for a piece of tech that can be managed in real time), the direction is clear: simplicity, transparency and real financial rewards for doing the right thing.
Pair that with future homes built to a genuinely modern standard that prioritise affordable living, and you start to build a system that works with – and for – people. The opportunity now is scale and simplicity. It’s how we make new energy work for everyone.
Plug-and-play thinking doesn’t stop with generation. In Germany, E.ON and enviaM have a compact plug-in battery designed to make home energy storage more accessible, especially for people who can’t install rooftop solar, such as those living in flats or other multi-family buildings. The goal is simple: make it easier to benefit from flexibility and dynamic electricity prices, without complex installations.
The battery can charge and discharge automatically based on household demand and real-time prices – storing electricity when it’s cheaper and using it later when it’s needed most.
In the UK our focus remains on proven, whole-home solutions that help customers cut bills and reduce carbon – from integrated solar and battery packages to smarter tariffs and flexibility services that reward people for shifting usage.
Through a series of projects with local authorities and housing developers, we’re exploring how home energy storage can be help make energy more affordable and more secure – whether that is in new-build or existing homes – and ultimately supports a smarter, more flexible energy system.
Specifically in new-build properties we’re supporting the developers to meet new Government housing standards. E.ON’s work with developers on the ‘Lower Bills, Built In’ approach means homes will come ready-fitted and plugged into a smart energy management system which automatically manages their power needs. It allows developers to meet new future homes standards and ensures homebuyers can enjoy more affordable energy bills without the need to actively manage their usage.
What’s exciting about plug-in technology is the direction of travel: more flexibility for more people, delivered through simple hardware and smart software. As we develop and learn from innovations in other European markets, we’ll keep working to bring customers greater affordability, transparency and control. Whatever their home set-up.
The information (including any forecasts or projections) contained in these press releases (the “Information”) reflects the views and opinions of E.ON on the date of the press release. The Information is intended as a guide only and nothing contained within these press releases is to be taken, or relied upon, as advice. E.ON makes no warranties, representations or undertakings about any of the Information (including, without limitation, any as to its quality, accuracy, completeness or fitness for any particular purpose) and E.ON accepts no liability whatsoever for any action or omission taken by you in relation to the Information. Any reliance you place on the Information is solely at your own risk. These press releases are the property of E.ON and you may not copy, modify, publish, repost or distribute it without our permission. © E.ON 2026
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