Should you use plug in solar panels?
Summary
Professor Lisa Ryan from UCD explains the recently approved plug-in solar panels, which are small, portable units designed for balconies or gardens. She details their limited output of 300 to 800 watts, noting they are best suited for apartment dwellers or those working from home who can utilize the energy during the day. While these panels can reduce electricity bills by 10 to 15 percent, Ryan advises that homeowners with gardens are better off investing in larger rooftop systems that qualify for government grants and battery storage.
Topics discussed
Government ad: Call for skilled workers to build homes
Introduction to plug-in solar panels and guest Lisa Ryan
Size, portability, and placement of plug-in panels
How plug-in panels feed into the home circuit
Power output limits and lack of SEAI grants
The issue of unused energy when not at home
Cost-effectiveness and the need for batteries
Rooftop vs. plug-in solar for different living situations
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