Plug-in solar panels can be installed in homes from end of next month

Plug-in solar panels can be installed in UK homes from the end of next month after a change in the law, the Government has revealed. Households will be permitted to use the devices, which can take £100 off a household’s energy bill, for the first time from 27 August. It is still not clear when the panels will arrive on shop shelves in this country, but there are hopes it could now be weeks away. Retailers such as Lidl, B&Q, Currys, Asda, Screwfix and Wickes have all expressed interest in selling them. Shorts Plug-in solar refers to low-cost panels that can be placed on balconies and outdoor spaces. Unlike traditional ones, which can be costly and complicated to install, they are plugged directly into a mains socket to provide a home with free solar power and cut energy bills. The technology is expected to retail from about £400 and would reduce a typical home’s bills by between £70 and £110 annually, meaning a device would cover its costs in about four years. Plug-in solar has previously been illegal under UK safety regulations, but in March the then energy secretary Ed Miliband announced his intention to change the law this summer. Ministers at the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) have now quietly published a statutory instrument – a form of secondary legislation – which updates existing regulations. The new regulations – which were first spotted by tech blog Engadget – come into force on 27 August, meaning that plug-in solar will be legal from that date. The news has been welcomed by manufacturers and retailers, who have been desperate for the technology to get signed off before the end of the summer so they can launch their products while the weather remains warm. The i Paper previously revealed that officials were on track to greenlight the devices before the end of August, and that they could hit shop shelves around a month later. Lorna Wallace-Smith, head of UK communications for EcoFlow, a major plug-in solar manufacturer, told The i Paper: “The legalisation of plug-in solar marks a significant milestone for UK consumers and the future of home renewable energy.” She said the company was now reviewing the final requirements of the new legal framework to ensure its products align with UK standards, and praised the Government for identifying “a safe, practical and consumer-friendly pathway for the introduction of plug-in solar”. “Looking ahead, we see plug-in solar as one part of our broader home energy ecosystem,” she added. While a number of major retailers have said they plan to sell plug-in solar, it is not clear whether they will be on shelves in time for the legalisation date or if there will be a short delay. Michelle Gorringe-Smith, director of new categories at Currys, said: “We welcome this announcement from the Government, which marks the next step in enabling the safe rollout of plug-in solar products.” A spokesperson for Morrisons said: “Morrisons is continuing to engage with the Government and suppliers about the possibility of launching a competitively priced product when Government legislation allows the domestic use of such item.” DESNZ was contacted for comment. As The i Paper revealed on Wednesday, the department is also considering legalising and subsidising plug-in batteries as another way of helping families cut their bills.