The industry welcomed the idea of wider access to cheap and clean energy, but warned that it remains unclear how plug-in solar panels will interact with the millions of existing electrical installations in UK homes, particularly in older properties where this wiring may have deteriorated.
They described six key safety issues the units, due to be sold in supermarkets, could post. They said that bi-directional flow could introduce technical issues that leave most homeowners unaware of the dangers, compromising the performance of RCDs.
Old buildings, which make up more than half of UK housing, may have old, damaged or deteriorating electrical wiring, unfit to carry extra load. Plug-in solar PV units, especially multiple units, can increase the risk of localised overheating of cables.
Plans to allow the sale of the units is outpacing the development of standards. If products reach the retail market before a robust and enforceable UK standard is fully embedded, consumers may be exposed to inconsistent quality, unclear compliance requirements and unsafe imports. For example, some products are already being promoted with flattened cables intended to pass under doors or through openings not designed for electrical equipment.
The proposed sale of the units is also outpacing grid development. New installations such as solar PV units and electric vehicle charge-points should be notified to the local Distribution Network Operator (DNO) because cumulative demand and generation affect local network capacity and stability. If plug-in solar PV units are normalised as an off-the-shelf consumer purchase without a clear notification and oversight regime, visibility of what is connected to the system will be reduced at the very point when visibility matters most.
The institutions also said questions remain on liability and insurance. If a fire or electrical fault is linked to a plug-in solar PV unit, it is not yet clear how insurers will assess cover where the product was self-installed, not declared in advance or connected to an unsuitable electrical installation. Consumers should not be encouraged to adopt these products before they fully understand the consequences, potentially leaving landlords, leaseholders and insurers to manage the fallout.
Finally, they warn, daisy chaining of units by customers could significantly increase the likelihood of overheating and fire, as well as creating trip and fall hazards from trailing cables poor installations/fixings into gardens or on balconies with a risk of becoming loose or falling from height, with disastrous consequences.
The industry bodies concluded that a poorly regulated bargain product may reduce bills in the short-term, but it can also transfer risk onto households, emergency services, insurers, network operators and, ultimately, government. A rushed rollout could potentially weaken confidence in the energy transition.
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