GoKawiilBritish households will be able to buy plug-in solar panels later this summer after the government changed the law so the UK’s biggest retailers could bring them to market for the first time.
People across the country will be able to join the millions across Europe generating their own electricity using “balcony solar panels” from 27 August, according to legislation passed last week.
These plug-in panels have in recent years become familiar sights on balconies in Spain and in Germany, where they are known as Balkonkraftwerk (balcony power plant).
Unlike traditional rooftop solar panels, which require professional installation, balcony solar installations can be plugged into a three-prong wall socket, generating cheap electricity from a balcony, terrace, shed roof or any other outdoor space.
The legal change means that, from the end of this summer, retailers including Currys, B&Q and Asda will be able to sell DIY solar setups to people living in flats or rented homes without rooftop access, so they can generate their own solar power from their balconies.
They were among some of the UK’s biggest retail brands – including Screwfix, Wickes and Amazon – that met the government earlier this summer to discuss guidelines for the sale of balcony solar panels, which are expected to retail for at least £400 and could shave up to £110 a year off energy bills.
The government’s move to make plug-in solar lawful is expected to bring “cheap, clean power to households that have not been able to access these benefits before”, said Chris Hewett, the chief executive of Solar Energy UK.
“Our industry is working closely with government to ensure that all customers can have confidence in the safety and reliability of these new technologies,” he added.
When panels are plugged in, the clean energy generated when the sun is shining flows directly into the property’s electrical circuit through a standard three-prong plug to power electrical appliances without needing to buy as much from the grid.
Plug-in systems usually have a capacity of 800 watts, or one-fifth of the size of a typical residential rooftop solar system, so while they wouldn’t be able to power a home alone, they could help to reduce bills by up to £70-110 a year. This means it would take four to seven years to cover the initial outlay of buying a plug-in system.
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