Thinking of buying plug-in solar panels? Here’s what you need to check first
www.independent.co.uk
The panels can lower energy bills by cutting how much electricity households pull from the grid

Each kit produces up to 800W of power, which is enough to provide up to 20% of an average home’s electricity use when the sun is shining, according to officials.

As they go on sale, ministers say prices could start off higher but they expect them to settle at around £400 to £600 – depending on the size and model – amid growing competition as more models come on to the market.

Currys, B&Q, Screwfix and Wickes are also among retailers that have committed to stocking plug-in panels.

The sale of the technology was previously restricted in the UK because of safety and wiring standards.

  • br3d@lemmy.worldEnglish
    15·
    6 days ago

    I looked into this a bit and the main thing to know is that, unlike traditional home solar, anything you generate that you don’t use there and then just goes to the grid and you don’t get paid for it. That should be fine though - you’re still helping decarbonise the grid and you’re all the more incentivised to shift consumption to when the sun’s out, which most of us could do more with appliances like washing machines and dishwashers, and perhaps especially lawn mowers

    Edit: note that companies like Anker Solix sell plug-in solar with battery storage, which is another way to handle matching supply and demand

    • Officer_Pickles@lemmy.worldEnglish
      5·
      6 days ago

      Unfortunately the battery storage systems aren’t currently compliant with the necessary standards. Although there’s nothing to stop you using them.

        • Officer_Pickles@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          6 days ago

          Thank you for including that article.

          Quote - Batteries are largely a no-go. You can’t have a home battery hooked up to your plug-in system unless an electrician signs it off. There are expectations this could change next year, but right now, the rules are strict.

  • Blackmist@feddit.ukEnglish
    2·
    5 days ago

    So if it was restricted and now isn’t, what changed?

    Did the grid get safeguards? Did they just tell their workers to watch out? Did they upgrade something? Did they make sure the ones sold in the UK do something different (in which case the dodgy Temu ones probably aren’t going to do that and cause fires)? They certainly didn’t upgrade every home…