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Plug-in balcony solar panels launch in UK for first time
Systems will be sold starting Thursday at prices from about £400 to £500, with 800-watt units aiming to cut average electricity bills by up to £110 a year.
Plug-in balcony solar panels are set to go on sale in the UK for the first time, letting households generate their own solar power even if they lack roof access. The DIY systems plug into a standard wall socket and feed electricity directly into a property’s electrical circuit to power appliances without as much electricity purchased from the grid, according to the Guardian Business.
Argos is expected to be the first major retailer to stock the panels, with other big retailers including Amazon, Currys, B&Q and Screwfix also expected to carry them in the coming weeks. Prices are expected to start at about £400 to £500 depending on the system capacity.
The UK rollout centers on 800-watt systems that are about a fifth of the size of a typical residential rooftop solar set-up, the Guardian Business reports. While the units are not designed to power an entire home, they could save the average household up to £110 per year on its annual electricity bill, with each system needing registration so Great Britain’s National Energy System Operator can track their cumulative impact.
The devices are already popular in places such as Spain and Germany, where they are known as Balkonkraftwerk, the outlet adds. The UK version is intended to help residents in flats or rented homes lower bills by using outdoor space such as balconies, terraces or shed roofs for power generation.