CHEAP plug-in solar panels are set to become legal before the end of the summer – and they could slash your energy bills by up to £100 a year.
Brits will be able to buy the devices in bargain retailers including Lidl and Amazon as part of a Government scheme, it was announced earlier this year.
It has now emerged that shoppers can get their hands on the cost-cutting gadgets from as early as August.
An industry source told the i Paper that solar panels could be in shops in “as quickly as a month”, after the law was changed to make them legal in the UK.
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Solar panels are usually expensive to install, costing between £5,000 to £8,000, but can help households cut their bills by supplying free solar energy.
Plug-in panels are much cheaper as they don’t need installing, so all you need to do is pay for the panel itself.
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They’re currently on the market from about £400 but it’s hoped retailers will be able to offer them for bargain prices.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) estimates a typical UK home could save £70 to £100 a year on their energy bills, as they reduce the amount of electricity your home needs to draw from the grid.
The panels can be placed in outdoor spaces like gardens or balconies are are plugged directly into the mains socket, like any other home electrical device.
Plug-in solar panels were previously banned in the UK under safety regulations, but Energy Secretary Ed Miliband announced in March that the law would be changed to permit them.
Several major retailers have announced they will be selling the panels under the Government’s plans, including Lidl, Amazon, B&Q and Currys.
A DESNZ spokesperson said: “We expect plug-in solar panels to be available to buy this summer.
“This technology, already widely used by households throughout Europe, is easy to install and could save many households significant amounts on their energy bills, as part of our drive for clean, homegrown power.”
