The era of plug-in solar panels is well and truly underway.
Micro PV systems have become a common features on balconies and in gardens across Europe in recent years but, with the UK and US now cottoning onto the technology, it feels as though serious momentum is building.
On 30 September, Gavin Newsom made California the tenth US state to allow the sale of the systems when he signed what is known as the ‘Plug and Play Solar Act’, or SB 868.
Californians will have to wait until next year before they can purchase the products, but demand is expected to be high, especially given the rising energy prices in the state of late.
State Senator Scott Wiener, who authored the bill, said in a statement: "Electricity costs have reached ridiculous levels here in California, and now that the Plug and Play Solar Act is law, Californians have a much-needed tool to provide relief."
"These small, easy-to-use solar panels will give everyone, including renters, the relief they desperately need on our outrageous energy bills."
There are a few stipulations to the kinds of plug-in solar systems Californians can buy. Firstly, the law caps each household at systems of 1,200W.
The devices have to plug into standard outlets too, and they must also offset a customer’s onsite electricity use and meet state and national electrical codes. Safety is part of the reason for this early standardisation.
Importantly, it looks as though the systems that meet these requirements will be exempt from the interconnection agreements that utilities usually require for solar. These are essentially legal contracts between solar panel owners and local utility companies.
The state government decided to waive these agreements after advocates argued they would make the whole plug-and-play endeavour cost ineffective. That said, utilities can still ask customers to notify them before using a device.
Though California is now the largest US state to allow the sale of plug-in solar panels, other states opened their doors to the technology long before.
Utah became the first in March 2025 and several others, including Colorado, Connecticut and Maine, followed shortly after.
According to Bloomberg, nearly two dozen other states are now weighing up measures of their own.
From the outside, such legislation seems a no-brainer. The systems are helping to democratise solar generation by giving access to people without roof space, or those that rent rather than own their properties.
For these people, the good thing is that a plug-in solar kit can be packed up and moved to a new property at any time, meaning they do not sink money into a home they might not live in for a long time.
Bright Saver, a non-profit organisation that campaigns for plug-in solar systems, has welcomed the signing.
Cora Stryker, the firm's Co-Founder and Co-CEO, says: "There's a reason people say, 'As California goes, so goes the nation.' This is a significant milestone, not just for plug-in solar, but for the broader movement to make clean energy accessible to everyone."
"When we founded Bright Saver, we set out to remove the barriers that have kept everyday Americans from participating in the clean energy transition," she adds. "Plug-in solar is one important step toward that vision."
The UK reached the same point only weeks ago when plug-in solar panels first went on sale in August.
Argos, the British high street retailer, was the first company to start selling the systems. Graham Biggart, the firm’s Managing Director, said that the move will help to empower people on their energy journeys.
“By making this technology more accessible, we’re putting more power in the hands of our customers and helping them explore practical ways to manage energy use at home,” he explained.
For California’s 39 million residents, the new bill could be transformative. For the US as a whole, the Golden State’s decision could open the floodgates.
“California’s move sends a powerful signal to the rest of the country about what’s possible when we make clean energy easier to adopt,” says Cora. “This is a major victory for our movement, but we’re just getting started.”
Should the rollout go to plan, it could have huge benefits across the economy. Firstly, it could save residents a lot of money on energy bills. Then, it would help utilities balance grids far better, while it would also, obviously, be a major boon for solar panel manufacturers. That, of course, is to say nothing about the environmental benefits of the initiative.
For everyday people, the savings will likely be the strongest pull.
As Scott says: “It’s time to put money back in the pockets of Californians.”
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