Plug-in solar is coming. Plug-in batteries should follow
5 hours ago
- Plug-in batteries can significantly cut household electricity bills, especially for renters, flat dwellers, and low-income households who are excluded from traditional home battery systems.
- The UK government has announced regulation changes for plug-in solar, but plug-in batteries remain in a regulatory grey area, unlike in mainland Europe where they are common.
- A plug-in battery is a portable unit that charges during off-peak times and discharges to offset expensive peak demand, requiring no professional installation.
- Savings analysis shows a 3 kWh battery on a time-of-use tariff can pay back within 2.5 years, with 10-year savings up to £2,400 for high-energy households, and potential total cost reduction of 30-34%.
- Beneficiaries include 9 million rented households, 6 million flats/apartments, and 11.4 million low-income households, totaling 12–14 million households (nearly half of Great Britain).
- System benefits include peak demand reduction, support for renewable integration, and lower costs for all consumers; by 2030, rapid uptake could provide almost 1 GW discharge and 4 GWh storage.
- Safety concerns include load masking and fire risk; current wiring regulations (BS 7671) do not permit plug-in batteries, but an 800 W cap similar to plug-in solar could mitigate risks.
- Regen recommends the government set a legal date for plug-in batteries, commission a safety study, update wiring regulations, and sponsor a product safety standard for portable devices.