Analysis: These panels can be plugged into a standard wall socket to generate solar power from a balcony, shed roof or any other outdoor space<\/p>\n
Imagine a device that you plug into a normal household socket which generates rather than uses electricity so you can use it anywhere in your home. This is a reality today for over a million homeowners across Germany<\/a> (and more recently in the UK<\/a>) and hopefully will be in Ireland sometime soon. The device I am talking about is plug-in solar (sometimes called balcony solar<\/a>), as it is used by many apartment owners in Germany on their balconies to make their own electricity from sunlight.<\/p>\n Firstly, it’s important to state that this technology is not a ‘game changer’ or a ‘no-brainer’ and it is not going to radically lower anyone’s electricity bill. However, if used well and in specific situations, it can make a helpful reduction to someone’s electricity bills. The system typically consists of a solar panel(s), a power cable, a box with some electronics inside called an inverter<\/a> and a regular plug.<\/p>\n \n From Euronews, how Germans are using balcony solar to fight climate change and high energy bills<\/p>\n It works like regular solar panel systems which we now see on almost 200,000 homes<\/a> and business in Ireland, but at a much smaller scale. A typical set-up for conventional solar panels<\/a> on a house might have anything from four to 20 panels on a roof, whereas these ‘plug-in’ systems are smaller, typically one or two panels.<\/p>\n The way it works is that you place the solar panel outside in your garden or on your balcony and the cable from the solar panel passes into your house and is plugged into a regular socket (unless you have an outside weatherproof socket). Within the system, there are some electronics that cleverly change the electricity produced by the solar panel to the same technical characteristics as the electricity inside your home coming from the power grid. This makes the electricity coming from the system look and feel like regular electricity for your appliances in the house.<\/p>\n Like everything, there are pros and cons and expectations need to be managed on what they can and cannot deliver. Firstly, because the systems are small, the electricity coming from them is very modest across the year. Most of the systems sold in Germany are up to a maximum of 800 watts going from the system to the household plug. This is enough to power a microwave but not enough to fully power appliances like tumble dryers, kettles or washing machines, etc., but they do contribute to your electricity use.<\/p>\n \n From BBC News, plug-in solar panels go on sale in the UK<\/p>\n For Irish conditions, if placed due south with no shade, I estimate it could meet about 10 to 15% of your annual electricity needs, which is equivalent to about \u20ac150 of electricity per year. While the systems are not on sale in Ireland yet, they are expected to cost somewhere in the region of around \u20ac500, so the payback is about two to four years for the larger-sized systems, and they are expected to last for 20 to 25 years. There are also some logistics that need to be figured out, such as where to put the panel. If you don’t have an outside plug, you will need to pass the cable into your home.<\/p>\n But the wider issue is that these ‘plug-and-play’ systems for electricity generation are currently not permitted in Ireland. There are lots of technical issues (which are well discussed here<\/a>) but, in my view, it’s fundamentally a legal issue. All these systems are fine until something goes wrong and then the question becomes who is at fault and who is legally responsible.<\/p>\n For regular residential solar, this is less of an issue because each new system must be verified by a certified electrician. For these new plug-in systems, some old rules for electricity in homes must be changed and new ones must be added and this takes time.<\/p>\n We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences<\/a><\/p>\n From RT\u00c9 Brainstorm, how long will it take for my solar panels to pay for themselves?<\/p>\n There have been reports<\/a> that this system could be allowed this autumn, but I think early 2027 is a more realistic option before full regulatory permission will be given to homeowners to install them themselves without the need for an electrician. For Ireland, most solar electricity is produced between the months of May and September, so autumn and winter are not a practical time for purchase and installation.<\/p>\n So will it make any difference? Plug-in solar offers people in apartments and those who don’t have the significant outlay required for residential solar, an option to take the sting out of their electricity bills. It’s not a game changer, but it allows the game to be played a little easier. Giving people more power to make their own power is only a good thing for society<\/p>\n Follow RT\u00c9 Brainstorm on WhatsApp<\/a> and Instagram<\/a> for more stories and updates<\/p>\n The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RT\u00c9<\/p>\n