Sunshine - A global power not taking sides

Critical infrastructure goals

With oil tankers stuck in the Strait of Hormuz as the conflicts with Iran continue, wholesale gas prices have surged. Whilst the UK does not heavily rely on oil from the Middle East, it still buys energy on the global markets, and hence the government is working on a series of short-term initiatives to address the impact of rising energy prices on homeowners. These initiatives are part of a broader suite of plans that includes floating infrastructure, offshore cable development and new nuclear capacity (including small modular reactors) to support the UK achieve energy self-sufficiency. 

Plug-in Solar Panels announcement 

Today the government has issued a press release promoting initiatives to make ‘Plug-in solar’ available within months, stating:

‘Retailers like Lidl and Amazon, alongside manufacturers such as EcoFlow, are working with Government to enable them to be brought to the UK market.’

Such appliances will be available in shops with the goal of significantly cutting energy bills. The announcement follows January’s statement committing £15 billion under the ‘Warm Homes Plan’, an initiative aiming to bring up to one million families out of energy poverty.

Plug-in solar is expected to lower the barriers to entry for homeowners. Previously equipment had to be ordered following a roof assessment and design phase before being installed by a specialist technician. Going forward, the plug-in panels can be bought on the high street and plugged into the wall. Once left in the sun, they supply power to the home’s internal circuits, reducing reliance on grid electricity, with any surplus exported back to the grid (subject to limits and compliance).

Why not before?

Historically, UK regulations required microgeneration systems to be permanently installed and certified, limiting the use of plug-in solar solutions. Concerns centred on circuit overload, non-compliant inverters and, more critically, the lack of grid protection controls, creating a risk of overheating and fire. New safety standards, including power limits and approved inverters for manufacturers, are expected to bring these systems within acceptable safety and regulatory thresholds.

Electric heat pumps reduce dependency on gas

The plug-in solar panel initiative works hand in hand with electric heat pumps. These pumps absorb low‑grade heat from the outside air, compress it to raise the temperature, and then use a heat exchanger to transfer the heat into radiators and underfloor systems. This allows a home to generate and use low‑carbon heat far more efficiently than traditional gas boilers. 

A key aspect of the government’s announcement is that developers will be required to fit solar panels and heat pumps to all new homes. From 2028, no new homes will be connected to the gas network and will be required to have roof-mounted solar panels covering an area equivalent to 40% of the ground floor space.

Impact for Infrastructure services 

Over time, there is also the potential for these initiatives to drive changes in how the grid is used and therefore the infrastructure that is needed. Traditionally, electricity has flowed one way, but if homes are increasingly supplying energy back to the grid, further work on grid capacity will be needed. 

There is also a mismatch to deal with. Summer demand will be low (as heat pumps won’t need to be used as frequently) whilst solar panels will have a higher yield. Similarly, net daytime consumption will be lower, therefore reducing daytime electricity sales and flattening demand curves. 

There is likely to be a broader knock-on effect on the utilities market and the creation of alternative business models which support smarter grid management. These include an increased adoption of smart meters, real time voltage control, dynamic tariffs, AI forecasting tools and automated response systems.

This is potentially great news for MEP contractors and specialist service providers addressing the utilities market, particularly as there are signals that similar government initiatives can be expected for commercial and industrial energy consumption.  

Near term delays on projects

Whilst the breadth and depth of initiatives addressing UK infrastructure needs is compelling, this is yet to fully translate into order books of Infrastructure Services providers. 2025 has seen delays in major projects, often held up by decisions delayed by legal challenges and deteriorating project economics. Such delays appear to be across the board and include challenges on wastewater and transportation infrastructure. 

Whilst announcements like today’s approach to plug-in solar are unlikely to be impacted by such issues, this initiative alone is not enough. Energy Infrastructure goals have the potential to impact upon the UK’s National Security and success (hopefully) should not be hindered by bureaucracy.