People across Europe are using the DIY panels which are being made more affordable by retailers like Lidl to reduce soaring energy costs
Plug-in solar panels will soon hit the UK market(Image: Getty Images)
Lidl has introduced an affordable solar battery as an increasingly number of people are turning to ways to reduce their energy bills amid soaring costs.
Now now the budget supermarket chain is selling the batteries, which enable households to store energy generated during daylight hours from inexpensive, portable ‘plug-in’ solar panels, starting from €299.
A higher-capacity battery is also available, complete with an app for remote management, from €399, reports Cork Beo, making getting solar panels for your home much more affordable for most people.
These type of plug in systems which can be installed in just minutes with no specialist fitting are known as ‘DIY’ or ‘Balcony Solar’, though a balcony isn’t essential.
They can also mounted on house walls, placed on extension roofs or positioned anywhere that gets enough sunlight.
However, there is a catch for Irish customers hoping that the retailer will bring the system to Irish stores. Under current regulations, anyone wishing to install solar panels on their property must complete an N6 form through a registered installer and obtain ESB approval for the system.
The Irish Government has been urged to consider easing legislation to permit next-generation microgeneration systems to be straightforwardly fitted in residential properties on a DIY basis. This would require an overhaul of grid codes and wiring regulations to ensure plug-in solar panels and connected batteries can be used safely.
According to PV Magazine, Lidl’s latest solar product is a 2.24kWh battery, with a 1,000W input and 800W output, and is compatible with the majority of plug-in solar panel systems, with the battery designed to work with most plug-in solar panels, which are already widely used across much of Europe.
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