Statement on the announcement of the Future Homes Standard

Responding to the Government’s plans to make plug in solar panels widely available to the public, Luke Osborne, Technical Director of Electrical Safety First said: “Electrical Safety First welcomes the announcement of the Future Homes Standard, however, whilst we recognise the potential for plug-in solar panel systems to make renewable energy more accessible for millions, safety must come first. Recent investigations conducted by the charity have highlighted that, at present, plug-in solar systems supply power to household circuits in a way currently not permitted by regulations.”

“Whilst the risk remains low, without wiring regulation changes and under certain conditions, plug-in solar PV systems connected to standard household sockets, can cause overheating or impair the operation of protective devices such as RCDs in a property. We are pleased to see the Government intends to address these issues and we believe new safety standards should be introduced rapidly, to ensure households can safely enjoy the benefits of plug in solar. We look forward to working with the Government to address these issues in detail.

“With the introduction of any new technology comes the risk of substandard versions making their way onto the market through unscrupulous sellers, and we continue to call for online marketplaces to be better regulated, to prevent unsafe products being available to households now and in the future.”