Image Source: Britains Energy Secretary Ed Miliband in a BBC-Interview speaking about plug-in solar

The war in Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, including restrictions affecting oil tankers, are currently leaving a noticeable mark on household budgets all over Europe and the US. As cynical as it may sound, this situation does not have only negative consequences. Above all, it once again highlights how fragile energy supply becomes when it depends on imported fossil fuels. This lesson is now being taken seriously across the English Channel as well – with remarkable consequences.

Last summer, there were reports on the British government’s plans to launch a safety study on plug-in solar systems. At the time, we already predicted the outcome: plug-in solar is safe. And—who would have thought—amid sharply rising energy costs for consumers, the Department for Energy under Ed Miliband has now decided to approve plug-in solar systems in Great Britain for the first time.

It is not yet clear how long the process will take or what the exact implementation will look like. Nevertheless, the announcement sends an important signal. The German BVSS is already in contact with British experts and has offered our support to the ministry.

There is good reason for hoping that the remaining technical questions—particularly concerning certain unidirectional residual current devices that may lose functionality in the event of reverse power flow—can be properly addressed through appropriate regulatory provisions. This would allow plug-in solar to become a permanent component of an independent energy supply on the British Isles as well.