Plug-In Batteries Could Be Years Away in the UK: Your Options Now
Plug-in batteries have been all over the news this week. On 16 October The i Paper reported that the government is taking a step towards allowing "home power banks" in the UK, the small batteries sold by Lidl and other retailers across Europe that plug into a normal socket. The next day the Express picked up the story too. So can you buy one this winter? The short answer is not yet. Here's what's going on, and what you can do now if you want to store cheaper electricity at home.
What is a plug-in battery?
A plug-in battery stores electricity, either from a plug-in solar panel or from the grid when prices are low, and feeds it back into your home through a wall socket when you need it. The i Paper says the cheapest on the European market is Lidl's Tronic Solar Battery at €299 (about £252), although that one has no inverter and is designed to work alongside a plug-in solar kit.
Why can't you use one in the UK yet?
UK safety rules say a battery must be wired in by an electrician, so plug-in batteries aren't permitted. The rules changed earlier this year to allow plug-in solar panels, but batteries were left out. According to The i Paper, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is commissioning a safety study that may not finish until March 2028, and the law would then need changing. That date could be brought forward if early findings are positive, but for now there's no confirmed timetable.
The charity Electrical Safety First has urged the government not to rush, pointing out that lithium-ion batteries can overheat and, in rare cases, catch fire if they're substandard or fail. That's worth remembering if you see cheap imports for sale online.
How much could a battery save?
The think tank Regen estimates a 3kWh plug-in battery costing £1,150, used with a time-of-use tariff, would pay for itself in about two and a half years for an average household, and that a high-usage home could save up to £2,400 over ten years. The idea is simple: charge the battery when electricity is cheap, often overnight, and use that stored power in the expensive early-evening peak.
You don't have to wait until 2028
Everything that makes a plug-in battery appealing is already available with a properly installed home battery. Because it's wired in by a qualified electrician, it's fully legal today, and a home battery can:
Store your own solar power: so the electricity your panels make during the day can run your home in the evening.
Charge on cheap off-peak rates: you don't need solar panels to benefit from a time-of-use tariff.
Work alongside a heat pump, air conditioning or EV charger: helping to cut the running costs of the electric kit in your home.
There's a tax point too. Under HMRC rules, installing a battery in your home currently qualifies for 0% VAT, whether it stores solar power or electricity from the grid. That zero rate runs until 31 March 2027, after which the reduced rate of 5% applies.
Is it worth it this winter?
Ofgem's price cap rose on 1 October, and industry voices quoted by The i Paper are warning about higher bills next year. A battery won't suit every home, which is why we always start with a proper look at how and when you use electricity. As a trading name of CPW Electrical Solutions Ltd, we can also check your consumer unit and wiring are ready before anything is fitted.
Home batteries and solar across Essex and East London
Winsolar designs and installs battery storage, solar PV, heat pumps, air conditioning and EV chargers for homes and businesses across Upminster, Brentwood, Basildon, Chelmsford, Romford, South Essex and East London.
Fancy storing cheaper electricity without waiting until 2028? Call us on 07545 571230 or use our website contact form for a free, no-obligation quote.
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