These low-cost, portable solar panels can be used on balconies or outdoor spaces to help reduce the amount of electricity you need to buy from the grid to power your appliances.
They're currently banned in the UK because they violate electrical safety regulations. But the government plans to update the rules to allow them to be sold and used in UK homes.
Plug and play solar panels are already widely used across Europe. In Germany, around half a million new solar devices were plugged in last year.
Lidl and Amazon are among retailers working with the government to bring plug-in solar to the UK.
The government said it's going 'further and faster on clean energy in response to conflict in the Middle East'.
Separately it announced a new scheme where energy companies can discount customers' energy bills on windy days. This would mainly benefit those in Scotland and the East of England and is planned to launch in time for winter.
What are plug-in solar panels?
Plug-in solar panels are solar kits that you can install yourself and plug into a standard mains socket.
They feed the electricity they generate into your home's circuit. Any appliance that is turned on will use this solar power first, reducing electricity used from the grid.
Systems typically include one or two panels with a microinverter than converts sunlight to usable AC power.
You won't need an electrician to install them, unlike solar panels on your roof.
Live more sustainably: to make eco-friendly changes for you, your home and the planet.How much will plug-in solar panels cost?
At the moment, we don't know what the prices of these products will be when they come to UK retailers.
However, in Germany, where 'Balkonkraftwerk' (balcony power stations) are already popular, they are available through Ikea, which has partnered with Swedish energy company Svea Solar.
German Ikea shoppers can buy a small balcony solar system with two 450W solar panels and an inverter for around €289. The addition of a battery brings it to €820; while this means the energy can be used at other times of day, it may stop the system from being as cost effective. Larger systems cost from €800 - €1,500.
Other German retailers have costs ranging from as little as €200 for a basic kit to €800 for a premium option (you'll need mounting hardware and cables, which sometimes aren't included in basic packages). When they were first launched on the German market, costs were around double those figures, but prices have come down significantly as the market has grown.
The German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt or UBA), estimates that for an 800W system mounted vertically on a south-facing balcony, annual yield would be around 532kWh. It estimates that (without a storage battery) households use around half of this power, resulting in average bill savings of €90 a year. That would suggest a 3-4 year payback time for the IKEA system. However, UBA does note that an increase in grid electricity prices (currently €0.37/kWh in Germany) would shorten this payback time, as would a reduction in upfront costs.
The UK government has said that it would expect these products to save British households £70 - £110 a year.
Are plug-in solar panels right for my home?
Plug-in solar panels are smaller than rooftop solar panels, which means they can be installed on balconies, up against walls or in small outdoor spaces.
So they could be suitable for your home, even if a rooftop system isn't - perhaps because of the direction your roof faces, or because you rent your home. They are portable, so if you move house you could take them with you.
They come with a kit to mount them so you can choose your spot to make sure they're in the best position to catch the sun.
They're much more affordable than rooftop solar panels. But they won't be able to generate as much electricity either, which means that the bill savings will be less. You'll need to think about the initial cost compared to the amount of money you will get from them in terms of energy bill savings, as the pay-back time could be as much as four to five years.
They're quicker and less disruptive to install than rooftop solar pv systems. You will be able to do it yourself and won't need an electrician, according to government.
Crucially, they're not available yet in the UK. The government says it's working with energy networks and regulator Ofgem to update rules and regulations so that households can connect plug-in solar panels to mains sockets without needing an electrician.
We'll keep you updated when roof-top solar panels are available to buy.
.source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/plug-in-solar-to-become-legal-in-the-uk-aMNzt5m4PDnU