Plug-in solar: could a low-cost panel cut your bills?

Britons will be able to buy ‘balcony’ systems they can install themselves from 27 August thanks to rule change Despite this summer bringing hours of sunshine, many Britons have been unable to cash in on free electricity generated by the sun. Rooftop solar panels are usually out of the question if you live in a flat or rent your home, and the cost has made them prohibitive to many more households. However, this could be about to change because next week the first wave of low-cost “plug-in” solar panels will go on sale in Great Britain. Also known as “plug‑and‑play” or “balcony” solar, the clue to what makes them different is in the name: you can fix them to a balcony or garden wall, then plug them in like a toaster. The mini solar systems are a familiar sight on balconies in Spain and in Germany, where they are known as a Balkonkraftwerk (balcony power plant), but until a recent change in the law, they were not permitted in Britain. Matt Parry from the Renewable Energy Association, a trade body for renewable energy, says the kits are a gamechanger. “It democratises solar and gives everyone the chance to get it,” he says. Unlike traditional rooftop solar panels, which require a profe