Government moves on ‘plug-in solar’ and launches Future Homes Standard

• “Plug-in” solar panels to be in shops within months, offering households chance to significantly cut energy bills 

• move comes as government steps up drive for clean homegrown power to get the UK off dependency on fossil fuel markets in response to Iran war

• new rules introduced today to ensure majority of new homes in England will come with solar panels fitted as standard

• innovative new approach of discounted power on windy days in areas where wind farms are paid to switch off to avoid “wasted wind”, predominantly benefiting Scotland and the East of England

More households will be helped to save money on bills through plug-in solar panels as the government vows to go further and faster on clean energy in response to conflict in the Middle East.

The current conflict is yet another reminder that the only route to energy security and sovereignty for the UK is to end dependence on fossil fuel markets and accelerate the drive for clean, homegrown power, as well as new renewables and nuclear.   

Already the government has taken significant steps in speeding up the move to clean energy in response to the conflict. Last week, the government’s annual renewables auction was brought forward to July. The most recent auction was the biggest ever and alongside the previous auction, enough clean energy to power 23 million homes has been confirmed. 

Today, the government is driving forward with the rollout of “plug-in” solar panels (low-cost panels that families can put on their balconies or outdoor space) to be available in shops within months and save people money on their bills. 

Retailers like Lidl and Amazon, alongside manufacturers such as EcoFlow, are working with government to enable them to be brought to the UK market. 

Plug-in solar is already widely used by households across Europe, with Germany seeing around half a million new devices plugged in per year.   
The free solar power can be used directly through a mains socket like any other device, without an installation cost, thereby reducing the amount of electricity taken from the grid and cutting energy bills.

The easy-to-install technology could save many households significant amounts on their energy bills and help make the UK less reliant on global fossil fuel markets. 

The government has taken decisive action in response to the conflict in the Middle East to fight for consumers and businesses on the cost of living, and is speeding up plans for more clean, homegrown energy that the UK controls to ensure energy sovereignty and security. 

This is alongside new rules coming into force today implementing the Future Homes Standard, which includes common-sense measures to ensure the majority of new homes are built cheaper to run, with solar panels and clean heating as standard. 

These measures on new homes could save families up to £830 a year on their energy bills, compared to a standard home with an EPC rating of C. This will ensure they are more comfortable and affordable – and create at least 75% less carbon emissions than those built to the 2013 standards.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: 

The government is determined to fight people’s corner in this crisis, which is why we have acted to prevent unfair practices like price gouging and provided immediate help for the most vulnerable facing spiralling heating oil prices. 

The Iran War has once again shown our drive for clean power is essential for our energy security so we can escape the grip of fossil fuel markets we don’t control. 

Whether through solar panels fitted as standard on new homes or making it possible for people to purchase plug-in solar in shops, we are determined to roll out clean power so we can give our country energy sovereignty.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed said:   

Building 1.5 million new homes also means building high-quality homes that are cheaper to run and warmer to live in.   

As we make the switch to clean, homegrown energy, today’s standard is what the future of housing can and should look like. Not only will these changes protect hardworking families from shocks abroad but will also slash hundreds of pounds off their energy bills every year.

The government is also announcing and innovative new approach, predominantly benefiting Scotland and East of England, and launching in time for this winter, enabling energy companies to offer discounted energy bills to customers on windy days, rather than continuing the previous default practice of paying wind turbines to turn off. 

Historic underinvestment in Britain’s electricity grid means wind farms in these areas are being paid to switch off on windy days when the network cannot carry all the clean power they produce. Government will look to bring forward new legislation to ensure more homegrown, clean energy can be passed on as discounted electricity to consumers during these periods.

Future Homes Standard

• The Future Homes Standard turns the page on over a decade of failure by previous governments. More than a million homes were built with higher bills following the cancellation of the Zero Carbon Homes standard in 2015 - leaving families exposed to the energy price spike after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

• today we are laying the regulations for the Standard and publishing its details

• it will put energy in the hands of the British people and help cut bills for good, protecting against fossil fuel price spikes like those triggered by the conflict in Iran

“Discounted energy”

• At the moment, wind farms are often paid to switch off on windy days, because the system can’t use all the power being generated, due to historic underinvestment in the grid required to match this supply with demand across the country

• to tackle these so-called “constraint payments”, we are launching a new, innovative trial, which would mean that using the generated power would become a more cost-effective option compared to turning turbines off

• this will enable suppliers and flexibility service providers to offer households and businesses in areas with constrained renewable generation discounted power during these periods, so that more of the extra electricity can be used rather than wasted. It will predominantly apply to areas in Scotland and the East of England

And it comes ahead of households across the country seeing a significant cut to their energy bills next week, with a £117 reduction coming into effect on 1 April, which will be in place until the end of June, saving families money for years to come, whatever the international situation.