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Plug-in Solar supposedly going to be 'easier'?

Steve Nixon76

Hi all, new to the forum.

I've been reading (various media outlets are running with the story) that the government is planning to make it easier (no mention of safety) for consumers to connect solar PV panel inverter directly to the mains using a 3 pin plug and socket arrangement.

Considering all of the current guidance regarding the connection of a solar PV inverter to the mains (dedicated circuit, own RCD, no 3 pin plug), how is this all of a sudden going to be 'safe'?

The argument that 'Balcony Solar' is all the rage on the continent surely doesn't negate the potential risks all of a sudden. Surely the IET is in discussions with government and arguing that the dangers cannot simply be swept under the carpet?

  • in reply to Simon Barker

    How many domestic appliances generate electricity that's then fed back through the fixed wiring system?

  • in reply to Steve Nixon76
    Steve Nixon76 said:
    I've already found a battery fire in Nottinghamshire that was caused by a short circuit in the NMC cells used in the BESS.

    Please could you share the details. It's not easy to gather this information. Many domestic fires seem to be recorded as Solar or just 'electrical' ... we need more granularity of recording.

    Public knowledge regarding the LiFePO4 fires.All grid-scale. These are the ones that seem to be easier to track. 

  • in reply to gkenyon
    gkenyon said:
    Please could you share the details. It's not easy to gather this information. Many domestic fires seem to be recorded as Solar or just 'electrical' ... we need more granularity of recording.

    Ah found it ... relatively new fire, 1 May: https://www.ess-news.com/2026/05/07/exclusive-short-circuit-in-nmc-batteries-caused-fire-at-uk-bess-project/

    It's an older system ...  and wouldn't align with current guidance (double-stacked).

    Not seen a report on that yet.

    Before this one, Carnegie Road in Liverpool, plus some newer grid-scale. All relatively new when the fire happened (at least one not yet commissioned). Issues with the lithium iron phosphate appear to be arc faults at cell level, probably due to a manufacturing defect - still pretty serious fires, though.

    Steve Nixon76 said:
    I'd really like to see the evidence that all the EESS fires you know about contained LiFePo4 chemistry cells. Especially as you were responsible for heading the team that created PAS63100

    The working group responsible for PAS 63100 did not have any special or privileged access to specific information not already in the public domain. DESNZ have published various reports. 

  • in reply to Steve Nixon76

    None that I can think of. But if they are made to a proper standard, the risks should be minimal. Even if someone is a bit naughty and plugs in more than one. 

  • in reply to Simon Barker

    Currently the ROI (Return On Investment) on Balcony solar is not that brilliant in the UK but as more people in the UK buy it the price will drop and make the ROI better.

  • in reply to Sergio Fernandez

    It may not be too bad.

    Lidl has them on offer for €249

    I don't speak German, but I think that they suggest that the pay-back period is between 3 and 24 months. Mike can let us know.

  • in reply to Chris Pearson

    Sadly  Bequem in 3-24 monatlichen Raten zahlen is not the pay-back time. More like ' make yourself  comfortable and arrange to  pay for this product in 3 to 24 monthly instalments. '

    Fair and square aiming at folk with less than 20 euros left at the end of each month after the rent is paid - a demographic totally passed by for the MCS installed process.

    Payback will depend on season and mounting arrangements. But may well be less than 24 months.

    Mike.

  • in reply to mapj1

    Thanks, Mike.

    On a bright sunny day like today, you might get the full 800 W for 12 hours. £3 saved at 25 p/unit, but if you go out to work, you will get much less for selling it back to the grid. In winter you might get 200 W (I am guessing) for 8 hours.

    I don't think that a saving of 50 p/day would be an unreasonable assumption, so pay-back in less than 2 years seems perfectly feasible.

  • in reply to Chris Pearson

    Oh yes, certainly and you dont need to add much battery to that to make it more useful if you go out to work. Its just not what the german said!

  • in reply to mapj1

    Well yes, and the pay-back from the leccy might be more than you pay back on the loan each month.

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