Retailers discuss selling plug-in balcony solar panels with UK government
8 reported
Executives from major UK retailers including Currys, B&Q, Amazon, Asda, Screwfix, and Wickes met with energy minister Martin McCluskey on Tuesday to discuss guidelines for selling plug-in balcony solar panels. The government aims to help households without rooftop access, such as those in flats or rented homes, generate their own electricity and reduce energy bills. Plug-in solar panels can be placed on balconies, terraces, or shed roofs and plug into a standard three-prong socket, using solar power first when an appliance is turned on. Government research estimates households could save £70 to £110 per year, with systems starting at about £400, meaning a payback period of four to seven years. The devices are already common in Spain and Germany, where about 1.5 million balconies have DIY panels. The government first proposed the plan last summer and expects panels to be available in stores in the coming months. B&Q chief executive Graham Bell said the retailer is working with government and suppliers to ensure products are safe and compliant, aiming to offer them as soon as possible.
What’s reported
Executives from Currys, B&Q, Amazon, Asda, Screwfix, and Wickes met minister Martin McCluskey on Tuesday.
Plug-in solar panels can be placed on balconies, terraces, or shed roofs and plug into a standard three-prong socket.
Systems typically have 800 watts capacity, about one-fifth the size of a typical residential rooftop system.
Government research estimates annual savings of £70 to £110, with costs starting at about £400.
Payback period is estimated at four to seven years.
About 1.5 million balconies in Germany have DIY panels, known as Balkonkraftwerk.
Last year, a record 269,000 solar installations were completed in the UK, over a third more than the previous year.
The government aims to increase UK solar farm capacity from 18GW to between 45GW and 47GW by the end of the decade.
Key figures
Martin McCluskey, minister for energy consumers
Graham Bell, chief executive of B&Q
Ed Miliband, energy secretary
Sources: The Guardian
