Plug-in solar panels could pose fire risks, create safety hazards and undermine confidence in the energy transition unless ministers slow down plans for a rapid rollout, some of the UK’s biggest electrical safety bodies have warned.
In an unusually united intervention, the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA), Electrical Safety First (ESF), the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), NICEIC and SELECT have urged the government to proceed with caution before allowing plug-in solar PV units onto the mass market.
The organisations said they support wider access to cheap clean energy but warned public safety must come first.
They argue there are serious unanswered questions around electrical safety, product standards, grid resilience, insurance liability and consumer protection.
At the heart of the concern is the fact that plug-in solar units do far more than power an appliance. Unlike a kettle or television, the devices generate electricity and feed it back into a home’s electrical system, creating two-way power flows that many existing domestic installations were never designed to handle.
Industry experts warned this could affect the operation of key safety devices such as residual current devices (RCDs), potentially compromising electrical protection systems within the home.
The groups said more than 50% of housing stock is more than 100 years old, raising concerns that ageing wiring could struggle to cope with additional electrical loads.
Without proper assessment, they warned plug-in solar systems could increase the risk of overheating and fire, particularly if consumers connect multiple units or use extension leads and adaptors.
The organisations also raised concerns about product quality.
While ministers have signalled that plug-in solar could be made available quickly, the groups warned consumers could be exposed to inconsistent standards and potentially unsafe imports if robust UK product requirements are not fully established first.
One particular concern is the emergence of products marketed with flattened cables designed to pass under doors or through openings not intended for electrical equipment.
The bodies warned such practices could increase the risk of damaged insulation, overheating and fire if not properly regulated.
The electricity network itself could also face challenges.
Current industry practice requires new generation technologies to be notified to local Distribution Network Operators so they can monitor network capacity and stability. If plug-in solar becomes an off-the-shelf purchase without a clear notification regime, operators could lose visibility of thousands of small generating units connected to local networks.
The groups warned the cumulative impact could be significant. “If multiple flats in a single block were each to install plug-in solar PV units, the cumulative effect on the local network could be significant,” they said.
“We should be wary of treating these systems as negligible simply because each individual unit is small. At scale, small installations can produce material consequences for network planning, safety and resilience.”
The organisations also questioned how insurers would deal with fires or electrical faults involving self-installed systems connected to unsuitable wiring.
They warned a rush to market could leave consumers, landlords, leaseholders and insurers facing uncertainty over liability.
The bodies stressed they are not opposed to innovation or wider adoption of solar technology.
However, they argue plug-in solar should only be rolled out once clear product standards, robust enforcement, competent installation pathways and effective consumer guidance are firmly in place.
“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,” they said.
“A rushed rollout could potentially weaken confidence in the energy transition.”
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