Shops in the UK Will Sell Plug-in Solar Panels
New rules let people buy solar panels and plug them in at home without an electrician.
The UK changed the rules for solar panels.
Now shops can sell plug-in solar panels.
Argos will sell them from Thursday. Other shops will follow.
People do not need an electrician. They put the panel outside and plug it in.
One panel costs £699. Two panels cost £1,089.
The government says a home can save £70 to £110 a year.
The panels will not power all the house. But they will help in the day.
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Plug-in Solar Panels Go on Sale in UK Shops This Week
The government has changed the rules, so people can buy panels and plug them into a socket at home.
Plug-in solar panels will arrive in DIY shops and High Street shops in the UK, because the government has changed the rules and they can now be sold legally.
The panels are much cheaper than roof panels and you do not need an electrician to install them. They are for homes with outdoor space, including some balconies. Argos will sell them from Thursday, and the government expects other shops to do the same.
A kit with one panel costs £699 and a kit with two panels costs £1,089. The government thinks prices will fall to between £400 and £600 when more companies sell them. Its research shows a home could save between £70 and £110 a year.
The panels give a maximum of 800 watts to the home. This is enough for things like fridges, but a kettle needs 3 kilowatts, so the rest comes from the grid. Homes that use energy in the day will save the most, because the electricity must be used when it is made.
The charity Electrical Safety First says people should ask a registered electrician to check their wiring before they buy. It also says people should never use an extension lead, and they should buy from well-known shops.
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UK Shops to Stock Plug-in Solar Panels After Rule Change
The government says the panels could help households cut energy bills by up to £110 a year, but safety experts urge buyers to check their wiring first.
Plug-in solar panels are arriving in DIY shops and High Street retailers after the government changed the rules to allow them to be sold legally in the UK. They are significantly cheaper than roof panels, can be installed without an electrician and suit properties with outdoor space, including some balconies.
Argos will stock the products from Thursday, and the government expects other shops to follow. It hopes the panels will help households save money and reduce reliance on overseas fuel sources, whose prices have moved up and down in recent months because of the Middle East conflict.
According to the UK solar company UKSOL, a one-panel kit will cost £699 and a two-panel kit £1,089. The government expects prices to settle at £400-£600 as competition increases, and its research shows a household could save between £70 and £110 a year. The exact saving depends on where the panels face and how long they run; an unshaded south-facing spot is best.
Output to the home is limited to 800 watts by a microinverter, which turns the current from the panel into electricity homes can use. The government says this should power about a fifth of an average household's electricity use while the sun is shining. British Gas said the panels will not power a home on their own but can "meaningfully reduce how much electricity you need to buy during the daytime".
Government tests found that sample systems could operate with no unacceptable heating or unsafe energy flows. However, the charity Electrical Safety First recommends having electrics checked by a registered electrician before buying, especially in older properties. Households must also tell their Distribution Network Operator within 28 days of plugging a panel in.
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