Yesterday, plug-in solar became available for the general public to buy in the UK. It has already had massive success in Germany. In principle, it’s a good thing, allowing those without a traditional solar setup to generate their own power and take control of their energy bills.
With that said, when technology like this is ready and available to buy with little regulatory oversight, there are some key things the general public should understand before investing in the kit.
Firstly, the main point of plug-in solar is reverse power flow. Does the average homeowner know whether the electrical components in their property can support this? Most homes in the UK, especially older properties in rural areas, weren’t built with this in mind. This, in turn, creates a fire risk: adding backfeed to unassessed wiring can cause overheating.
Secondly, there’s the issue of product standards. Where you buy these products from could be very important. Almost every industry suffers from cheaper alternatives being made and sold that could be faulty or fail to meet regulatory standards, and with solar and electrical components, this can be a massive risk. Combined with a lack of supervision and oversight, people are free to use extension cables, adding further risk.
Lastly, there’s liability. People have to be aware of the risks of this technology and make sure they’re covered if anything were to go wrong. With a regular solar installation, you are protected by the product manufacturer’s warranty, and by insurance-backed guarantees that protect your payments and workmanship warranty even if the installer stops trading. This is where following the specific guidelines and buying the best kit becomes important, as it can be the difference between a good decision and an expensive one.
We advise anyone to follow this advice when looking to buy a plug-in solar kit:
Have a competent and registered electrician survey your home’s wiring before buying the kit
Never connect it to an extension lead or any adapters that are not regulated or tested.
Buy from reputable retailers or manufacturers, and try to avoid third-party sites that do not specialise in these products.
Follow the guidelines and rules exactly as they are written, and do not exceed the one device per household limit.
Now, that all may sound like scaremongering, but plug-in solar is, in essence, a really good idea and a massive step in the right direction, and will help thousands of people gain access to solar. But it must be used correctly, and is by no means a replacement for what a proper solar installation can provide. For most homeowners, there are already plenty of alternatives to rooftop solar that can be safer and provide a greater ROI than a retail plug-in solar kit.
We support plug-in solar, but the technology needs more regulation and needs to be marketed in a way that ensures the right consumers are the ones buying it. For dwellings such as apartments, this is a perfect bit of kit to allow residents to cut costs and access solar. But for homes with viable roof space, although it’s a cheaper alternative, it can potentially cause issues through misuse or by ignoring the advice from governing bodies.
