Solar panels at Lidl? Plug-in versions set to appear in shops within MONTHS
Shoppers browsing in Lidl's middle aisle could soon be able to buy solar panels, as the Government will now allow supermarkets to sell plug-in versions of the eco devices.
Households will be able to buy the panels from supermarkets as well as retailers such as Amazon within months, it said.
Current UK regulations don’t allow such a device to be used. But ministers have pledged to work with regulator Ofgem and other official bodies to slash red tape to households to use these plug-in panels without the need for an electrician.
The panels, which are often used on balconies, can save families up to £110 a year on their energy bills, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero claimed.
It comes as the country’s energy security has been thrown into disarray in recent weeks as the war in the Middle East has triggered a surge in oil and gas prices.
It has caused energy bill forecasts to soar. Bills for the typical household are expected to climb by some £332 a year in July to £1,973, according to consultancy Cornwall Insight.
Plug-in panels: Shops to start stocking easy to install solar panels within 'months'
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And some of the cheapest fixed-rate energy deals have been swiped from the market as providers look to protect their bottom line.
But the Government energy tsar Ed Miliband has pledged to speed up plans for ‘clean and homegrown’ energy in response to the conflict.
Eco households who want to distance themselves from fossil fuel energy, which is susceptible to market fluctuations, can install traditional solar panels.
They use daylight to create electricity for your home, which means your family will be less reliant on expensive fossil fuel energy to power your lives.
But they are expensive to install – around £6,000 on average, with £350 a year in energy bill savings, according to Energy Saving Trust. So despite the potential savings, some families shy away from such a purchase due to the thousands of pounds needed upfront to install the panels.
These plug-in versions, however, are far cheaper and can be put on a balcony or in an outdoor space such as a garden instead of being fixed permanently on a roof.
They can be plugged into a mains socket like any other electronic device to provide a home with free solar power.
These cheaper versions are already available in other European countries. In Germany, for example, almost half a million new devices are plugged in every year.
The Government says this technology is ‘easy to install’ and will allow consumers to ‘significantly cut energy bills’.
While the potential cost of these new at-home panels is not yet known, in Germany families can expect to shell out anywhere from €449 to €2,761 for one of the balcony plug-in kits from Ikea. A small panel, however, costs around €200.
Popular retailers such as Lidl and Amazon, as well as solar energy manufacturer, EcoFlow are in talks with the Government to ‘enable them [plug-in solar panels] to be brought to the UK market.
Georgina Hall, of Lidl GB, says: ‘At Lidl GB, we are committed to making sustainable living affordable for everyone and we welcome the Government’s move to modernise regulations in the UK.
‘Updating the regulatory landscape for this ‘plug-and-play’ technology is a positive step towards empowering British households to manage their energy costs and support the nation’s net-zero ambitions.’
Lorna Wallace-Smith, of EcoFlow, added: ‘Allowing plug-and-play solar is a very positive step for expanding access to renewable energy in the UK. Seeing these systems available in stores by summer would be a major win for households, enabling people to take advantage of the longer, brighter days and start generating their own clean electricity straight away.
‘For many households - particularly those living in flats or rented homes - solar has not always been straightforward. Plug-and-play systems remove that barrier, making it far easier to get started. With clear standards and the right regulatory framework, the UK now has a real opportunity to bring accessible solar to millions more homes - just in time for summer.’
This new measure has been revealed alongside the Future Homes Standard, which will make solar panels and heat pumps compulsory for most new-build homes from 2028.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband says: ‘The Iran War has once again shown our drive for clean power is essential for our energy security so we can escape the grip of fossil fuel markets we don’t control.
‘Whether through solar panels fitted as standard on new homes or making it possible for people to purchase plug-in solar in shops, we are determined to roll out clean power so we can give our country energy sovereignty.’
