In recent years, the combination of energy price spikes, heatwaves and a concerted push towards renewables has made solar panels more tantalising a prospect for homeowners than ever before.

In general, this means working with heating, lighting and electricity experts to get solar panels installed, typically with a solar battery to ensure that you can make the most out of the energy generated.

However, plug-in solar panels have recently become an option that allows people to install solar panels even if they live in a home where traditional solar panels cannot be installed.

How do they work? When are they a more viable option than conventional rooftop solar panels? And what should you consider when installing either?

What Are Plug-In Solar Panels?

Also known as balcony solar panels or plug-and-play solar panels, plug-in solar panels are portable, easy-to-install, and easy-to-use kits designed to allow you to generate energy easily into your home.

They typically consist of a solar panel with mounting brackets, a microinverter to convert direct current into alternating current, and a three-pin plug for connecting your solar panel to the mains.

Because it feeds directly into your home’s wiring, the solar-generated electricity will be used before anything else.

This allows you to generate your own electricity very quickly and immediately power your home with it without the complexities of installing a solar power system into your home professionally.

The regulations that allow plug-in panels to be legally sold are expected to come into force over the summer of 2026.

When Are Plug-In Solar Panels The Most Viable Choice?

Its primary use is for people who do not really have a suitable house for a roof-mounted solar panel setup, such as renters, people who live in flats or homes without a lot of roof space, or houses which only receive light in their garden or balcony.

Beyond this, however, anyone who wants to dip their toes into solar power could find a lot of value in buying a plug-in panel and seeing if it works for their home before investing in something more substantial.

As plug-in panels are easier to install, more affordable and can be bought on the high street, they serve as an excellent first step, before maximising your savings using a more substantial professional installation.

When Should You Get Solar Panels Installed Professionally?

Plug-in solar panels work best as a stopgap and a proof of concept before getting a more substantial system installed by yourself.

A plug-in system, whilst it can certainly help to lower energy bills, is not enough to power your home entirely, and as solar power generally works best in conjunction with a battery storage system to retain excess power generated during heatwaves, a more substantial array is needed to minimise energy bills in the long term.

As well as this, whilst the regulations may change in the future, if you plan to export excess solar power back into the National Grid, you need a dedicated installation as plug-in panels are designed to use what is generated almost immediately.