Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has said the government is set to make ‘plug-in solar’ solutions available in the UK, as part of a range of new measures aimed at making Britain more energy secure.
Easy-to-install, plug-in solar could see households make significant savings on their energy bills, according to the government. Plug-in solar is already widely used in homes across Europe, with Germany seeing around half a million new devices plugged in last year alone. The government says it will work at pace with the relevant bodies, consumer groups and industry to introduce new standards and amend regulations to get these onto the market as soon as possible.
The portable, plug-in solar panels can be placed in gardens or on walls and balconies – providing a new, simple alternative for renters and flat owners who may not have the option of rooftop solar.
The free solar power can then be safely plugged into a mains socket like any other device, at no extra cost – thereby reducing the amount of electricity taken from the grid and cutting energy bills.
These solutions could be readily available for purchase through supermarkets.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:
“Global events demonstrate there’s not a moment to waste in our drive for clean power because there can be no energy security while we are so dependent on fossil fuels.
“So today I’m announcing a series of initiatives to speed up our clean power mission: bringing forward the next renewables auction just months after our most successful ever, announcing that plug in solar will be available for the first time in Britain and speeding up our Warm Homes Plan.
“Everything we are doing is about one purpose: fighting the corner of the British people by taking back control of our energy.”
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