Plug-in solar panels are already taking off in mainland Europe; now the UK government wants to encourage their adoption here Yesterday The Construction Index reported that the German supermarket group Lidl is among organisations working with the government to support the roll-out of ‘plug-and-play’ solar panels. Within the next few months we can expect to find low-cost solar panels in the middle aisles of Lidl that families can put on their balconies or outdoor space to start saving money on their energy bills, we said.
Some think it is a great idea, such as Ben Standing, a partner in planning and environment at law firm Browne Jacobson. “The policy to roll-out plug-in solar panels… is an innovative low-cost alternative to expensive retrofitting, while helping to reduce our country’s reliance on fossil fuels,” he said.
Some energy specialists think differently, including Stuart Patience, director and head of energy solutions at built environment consultancy Hollis.
Here is his warning:
“Buying plug-in solar panels from the supermarket sounds like a great idea in principle, but it’s not like picking up a pint of milk or a tin of beans. There will assuredly be energy-saving costs for thousands of people, but we should always be aware of the risks.
“Plug-in solar, in principle, could open solar PV to the masses, especially renters and flat owners who have been locked out of the market so far. But it presents a much bigger issue, as Stuart Patience, director and head of energy solutions at built environment consultancy Hollis, explains.
“There is a huge difference between making solar more available and making it safe. Right now, the push for plug-in solar feels more like a headline-grabbing story than a fully worked-through plan for safe installation and long-term use. The idea is attractive. The details and safety considerations are limited.
“The first critical question is who is fitting it? Solar PV is not a casual plug-and-play lifestyle product. It is an electrical product with serious safety and fire risks. If these systems are sold through mainstream retailers without clear requirements around competent installation, inspection and sign-off, the industry could be opening the door to widespread non-compliant electrical work.
“This is where the lack of electrical competency checks becomes a serious concern. If the government is encouraging householders to buy systems off the shelf and plug them in, they don’t have any verification of who has installed or inspected them, or whether their existing electrical system can cope with the additional load. These products only weaken competency controls and installation quality, which is a recipe for disaster.
“There is also the unresolved issue of grid connection requirements and planning rules already in place. Traditional solar installations are subject to established processes for network connection, technical assessment and, in some cases, planning consent, all of which exist to protect both building safety and grid stability.
“The announcement also ducks the wider building safety issues. Plug-in solar panels could introduce combustible materials, new ignition sources and additional loading to balconies and external surfaces. In higher-risk residential buildings, particularly those already facing cladding or remediation issues, this is a major unresolved problem that could cause serious structural and fire safety issues.
“If plug-in solar is being positioned as a simpler consumer product, the question is how existing requirements will be considered. It’s not just like plugging in a kettle.
“Will these systems be exempt, lightly regulated or folded into the current framework? Until that is made clear, there is a real risk that mass adoption of these technologies could significantly impact the grid capacity and the rules designed to keep installations safe, lawful and fit for purpose.
“Battery storage makes that risk even more worrying. There is a possibility that battery storage could be added to this proposal, which changes the conversation immediately. The industry needs to consider how to manage an unextinguishable fire in a high-rise building or residential property, caused by thermal runaway, which is when the battery cell overheats and releases flammable gases that continually burn until they run out, or explode. The prospect of solar PV and battery storage being introduced into high-rise flats without a robust competency framework should set alarm bells ringing across the sector.
“The problem is not just installation, it’s what happens afterwards. Solar PV is not something consumers can simply buy, forget about and assume will look after itself. Performance, safety and compliance all depend on proper ongoing maintenance, monitoring and user understanding. If owners are not properly educated on safe operation, routine checks, fault signs, shutdown procedures and when to call in specialists, small issues can turn into life-threatening situations.
“The worrying factor is that the government’s announcement barely touches risk, compliance or competency. It is being sold as a good news solution to energy pressure and rising bills, but it says far too little about the safeguards needed to make it work safely. Without proper competency checks, strong regulations and serious user education on maintenance, installation and safe use, it risks becoming a dangerous shortcut.
“And that is why the image of someone picking up a plug-in solar panel from the middle aisle in Lidl should be ringing alarm bells. It may seem like a quick fix for a government anxious to be seen to be tackling energy cost issues, but it could be a recipe for disaster.”
Stuart Patience is not a lone voice in this.
The Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) also said that it had “significant concerns about plug-in solar panels [because] many of these products available internationally are poorly manufactured, inadequately tested and are not designed for the UK electrical environment”.
This means variable build quality, no consistent UK safety standards, questionable long-term reliability, and connectors and cabling that are not designed for prolonged outdoor exposure in UK conditions, the ECA said.
According to the ECA, plug-in solar panels should only be plugged in by a qualified electrician, although only a cynic would suggest this was motivated by a desire to promote its members’ businesses.
ECA head of technical Gary Parker said: “ECA is a strong advocate for the transition to net zero and the deployment of well-designed, professionally installed low-carbon technologies. However, support for decarbonisation must never come at the expense of electrical safety, fire safety, or public confidence in the built environment. Plug-in solar products are not fit for purpose within the UK’s safety-led electrical framework and should not be encouraged.”
The National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) – whose members have a vested interest in roof-mounted panels but not patio or balcony plug-ins – is also sounding the fire alarm on this one.
NFRC head of solar PV Ben Rowlands said: “The direction of travel is right and we want solar to succeed. But rooftop solar is a roofing system decision as much as an electrical one, and the current accreditation framework does not reflect that. Industry is still working through where responsibilities between trades begin and end, and consumers are bearing the risk in the meantime.”
“The more solar we put into the built environment, the more important it becomes to get the basics right. Solar-related fires are already rising at roughly twice the rate of installations. We cannot keep scaling deployment and hope the safety framework catches up. This not only risks homeowner safety, but also the future of the industry.”
Consumer safety charity Electrical Safety First also chipped in with similar concerns. Technical director Luke Osborne said: “ Whilst we recognise the potential for plug-in solar panel systems to make renewable energy more accessible for millions, safety must come first. Recent investigations conducted by the charity have highlighted that, at present, plug-in solar systems supply power to household circuits in a way currently not permitted by regulations.”
“Whilst the risk remains low, without wiring regulation changes and under certain conditions, plug-in solar PV systems connected to standard household sockets, can cause overheating or impair the operation of protective devices such as RCDs in a property. We are pleased to see the government intends to address these issues and we believe new safety standards should be introduced rapidly, to ensure households can safely enjoy the benefits of plug in solar. We look forward to working with the government to address these issues in detail.
“With the introduction of any new technology comes the risk of substandard versions making their way onto the market through unscrupulous sellers, and we continue to call for online marketplaces to be better regulated, to prevent unsafe products being available to households now and in the future.”
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