Even before news last week that energy bills will jump to a three-year high this winter, plug-in solar panels were expected to fly off the shelves.
But with energy prices forecast to jump by 4 per cent in October (and six heatwaves and counting this year) that demand looks set to be turbocharged when new rules allowing them to be legally sold come into force on 27 August – with B&Q, Lidl, Currys and Amazon expected to be among the first sellers.
New figures last week showed that sales of traditional plugless solar panels – which are typically mounted on the roof – soared by 14 per cent in the first half of the year to a record 150,000 certified installations.
Now, a new breed of solar panels which come with a self-install plug attached will mean many people living in flats or rented properties – who have largely been excluded from solar power so far – will also be able to get in on the action by putting them on balconies or in gardens. These plug-in versions take the sun’s energy and convert it to power for your home, cutting energy bills.
But they still aren’t for everyone. For starters, those savings will vary considerably depending on how much sun you get. The average plug-in unit is expected to cost around £350, with the average annual energy saving forecast to be about £85 a year – meaning it will take about four years to pay off the purchase price.
For south-facing homes with average sunshine, the saving on a typical 800 MW plug-in system would be around £110 a year, the Government says. But for east and west-facing panels, the savings are expected to be more like £70 a year – while for the six million or so Brits with north-facing gardens it will be much lower still. It’s also worth thinking about how much your garden is shaded from trees or buildings.
You might also want to consider how much time you spend at home because, unlike with traditional solar panels, you won’t be able to sell any unused electricity generated by your plug-in to the grid (although this may change further down the line). Plug-in panels don’t have built-in batteries to save power for later, so if you’re not in, you won’t get the benefit.
Taking that average annual saving of £85 a year, the savings rise to £97 a year if someone is home and using electricity pretty much all day but falls to £69 if they are out, according to Energy Saving Trust.
If you do decide that plug-in solar panels are for you, here are four mistakes to look out for when you’re getting set up.
Probably the most important one is to get your wiring checked so you don’t start fires. As the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) points out: “Many UK homes have ageing, modified or poorly maintained electrical installations.” You can get an electrical installation condition report (EICR) from a qualified electrician to check your electrics and be sure to mention you’re considering plug-in solar panels.
These reports typically cost between £100 to £250, which will increase the upfront cost and payback time of the panels. Many installations will contain worn components, DIY alterations or protective devices that cannot safely manage electricity being fed back into a system, as happens with plug-in solar.
Safety switches, known as residual current devices, are a particular concern. These cut power by tripping if there’s a fault – for example, if someone ploughs their lawnmower over a cable it will protect you against an electric shock. But the IET is concerned the electricity from plug-in panels may cause some older switches to burn out.
The institution also advises people that you should install an outdoor socket if you don’t already have one, as extension leads draped through windows and doors “are a trip hazard and when you’re slamming the door against the cable you could expose the conductors”.
And, you can’t install plug-in panels on timber balconies or cladding because of the risk of both fires and voiding your insurance.
You should also let your electricity distribution network operator – the body which delivers electricity to your home – know within 28 days of connecting the panels. And if you rent, you need to get written permission from your landlord because, despite the Government push, the tenancy agreement won’t necessarily allow it.
The timing of the launch, near the end of a summer which has been sunny and dry for much of the country, could be better. But with a decent chance of seeing the seventh heatwave of the year in early September, there is still time to start making savings.
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