May 2026: Plug-in solar panels should soon go on sale in the UK for around £500. They can produce about 10% of a typical household’s energy, depending on how they are positioned. If you are thinking of buying panels, there are practical considerations, and paperwork to be done. A lecturer in Mechanical & Energy Engineering explains:

£500 plug‑in solar panels are about to go on sale: here’s what you need to know | Dylan Ryan in The Conversation, 28 April 2026

Arun already has plug-in panels. He is a fan:

My plug-in solar is brilliant and idiot proof. I estimate payback time 2.5 years on £400 outlay. No brainer.

Will NOT work in a power cut.

No feed in tariff. No battery: battery costs £900 on special offer 5kWh storage. Looking into at present ... payback time extra by having battery is maybe 5-10 years. May not be worth the hassle and capital cost. We don't have an EV yet.

Best bit of roof was used for solar hot water 30 years ago. We don't need gas for hot water for showers in May-October. For last 30 years. We don't [have] enough good roof space for a 4kW array of panels. and may move home in next few years. We can take our balcony solar with us.

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Originally posted in Second Nature 060 (May 2026). Category small actions, GB clean power tags solar.
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