Plans to help UK households save hundreds of pounds on their energy bills using plug-in batteries are a step closer, The i Paper can reveal.
But households may have to wait until 2028 to be able to install them as safety checks are carried out.
Plug-in batteries can be purchased for less than £400 and save households money on their bills by storing excess power from solar panels or utilising cheap off-peak electricity rates.
They are sold by retailers, including Lidl, in countries across Europe, but are currently not permitted in the UK due to safety regulations that state batteries must be wired in by an electrician.
Ministers are hoping to make plug-in batteries legal in the UK following changes to regulations earlier this year that now permit the sale of plug-in solar panels.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is in the process of commissioning a safety study for the product, but this may not be complete until 2028.
Industry officials are urging DESNZ to speed up the process given the threat of rising energy bills next year, however safety groups warn the study must leave “no stone unturned” due to the fire risks associated with lithium batteries.
How much can you save with plug-in batteries?
Like plug-in solar panels, plug-in batteries are viewed as a cheaper and more easily accessible way for households to utilise green technology to save money on their bills.
They are a particular good option for renters and flat owners and don’t necessarily need to be paired with solar panels. Households can also save money by charging them overnight, when electricity is cheap, and using the electricity during peak hours.
The cost of these batteries varies depending on how much electricity they store, but the cheapest on the market in Europe is Lidl’s Tronic Solar Battery at €299 (£252). However, this does not come with an inverter and is designed to work alongside a plug-in solar system.
Regen, a non-profit clean energy think tank, has estimated it will take two-and-a-half years for an average UK household to pay off a plug-in battery via bill savings. Over ten years a household with high energy use could save up to £2,400.
This is based on an upfront cost of £1,150 for a 3kWh battery utilising a flexible time-of-use tariff.
“Households across Europe are already buying plug-in batteries off the shelf, while British households are still barred from using them,” said Frank Hodgson, electrification and flexibility lead at Regen.
He added: “With the war in Iran pushing up energy costs, households need help with their bills now. The government is right to make sure plug-in batteries are safe, but it could move faster on its safety study so British households aren’t left waiting.”
When will they be introduced in the UK?
The safety study being comissioned by the Government will evaluate plug-in batteries for sale across the world, including from producers Lidl and Ecoflow, on UK electricity systems.
This process is currently slated to end in March 2028 and ministers would also need to pass changes to the law, meaning we could be several years away from plug-in batteries becoming legal.
However, The i Paper understands this date could be brought forward if interim findings from the study are positive.
Several UK companies are currently in the process of developing plug-in battery products ready to launch when the Government changes the legislation.
For example, Octopus Energy is developing the Nook Cube, a “shoebox-sized” plug-in battery aimed at renters and flat-owners.
What are the safety risks?
The charity Electricity Safety First has cautioned the Government against moving too quickly to approve plug-in batteries.
“Plug-in battery storage has real potential to allow households to take better control of their energy, but the road to net zero must never outpace safety considerations,” said Luke Osborne, Technical Director at Electrical Safety First.
Although the risk of fire is generally low when products are properly designed and used, lithium-ion batteries can overheat and, in rare cases, catch fire.
“It is vital that the study adequately assesses the risk these batteries can pose if they are substandard or fail,” said Osborne.
A DESNZ spokesperson said: “We will keep building the evidence base on plug-in batteries and will provide further updates in due course.”