The price of plug-in solar panels is expected to drop to under £600 in the weeks ahead, with more retailers beginning to sell the home renewables kits.
British company UKSOL, selling its one-panel kit for £699, has become the first supplier to meet regulatory compliance for the devices.
The 460W panels are on sale for delivery through Argos, and for pick-up and delivery with City Plumbing – a builders’ merchant with 350 branches.
Exes could get rights to your assets under law change
Unmarried romantic partners could be entitled to part of their ex’s assets if a break-up leaves them unable to meet their basic needs.
Some believe the proposals being considered by the Government would tackle “completely outdated and inadequate” laws governing relationships, Sky News reported.
What is being proposed?
- Unmarried romantic partners could ask a court to get involved if distributing the couple’s assets based on who owns what is not enough to meet the needs of each partner or their children.
- The court would distribute them in a way that ensures everyone can afford housing and living costs.
- Children’s needs would come first so the primary caregiver has enough resources for them.
- The courts would look at each partner’s earning capacity, financial resources, age, any disabilities and the length of relationship.
Who would the rules apply to?
The rules would apply to adults in romantic relationships who have lived together for at least three years or who share a child and lived together for any period. They would apply automatically, with the option for couples to opt out if they mutually agree. The rules are intended to benefit financially exposed women who sacrificed their careers to care for their children or victims of domestic abuse.
3 min read
4 min read
The expert view
Many people consciously choose not to remarry because they value both companionship and financial independence. They should remain free to make that choice, and the law should respect – not undermine – it
Baroness Ruth Deech, former law professor and chair of the Bar Standards Board
Watch more from The i Paper
The tactic that could protect your pension from inheritance tax raid – and the risks
There has been an increase in people looking to use a new tactic to avoid their pension wealth being subjected to high inheritance tax after their death, experts say.
What are people doing?
Experts say more parents are asking whether they could use a lifetime annuity, which provides a guaranteed income for life, to pass on their wealth to an adult child after their passing. Here’s what you need to know.
- The move would avoid the usual high inheritance tax bill for recipients, although it is currently an option only offered by two providers and there are several risks to be aware of.
- A lifetime annuity is a retirement product, bought from an insurer, that turns your pension into a guaranteed income for life.
- A joint annuity can be used to continue paying an income to a nominated person – in this case, potentially an adult child – after, for example, a parent dies in order to avoid a high IHT bill.
What are the risks?
The annuity is generally irreversible, suitable choices are limited and the income paid to the child may itself be taxable depending on the father’s age at death. Financial adviser Zoë Dagless said the insurer is pricing the annuity on the basis that it could continue for the child’s lifetime, so you are likely to be giving up a fair amount of income compared with an annuity based on the client’s life only.
3 min read
3 min read
More on money from The i Paper
Men ‘hate diets’ and struggle to lose weight on them
Men struggle to lose weight on diets because they are mainly aimed at women and seem too restrictive, research has found.
Avoiding the word “diet” in weight-loss programmes could help men because it is seen as feminine, reported.
What the research found
- Framing weight-loss programmes as competitions or challenges could help men, scientists said.
- Researchers at Anglia Ruskin University found that men felt dieting was associated with being denied food they enjoyed and were reluctant to commit to programmes if significant sacrifices were involved.
- Men were more likely to lose weight when dietary changes were designed by their partners or when they were supported by them.
- Having a buddy or mentor was also beneficial.
What was the study based on?
The study, published in the journal was based on interviews with 24 men aged 30 and over about their experiences of weight-loss programmes.
3 min read
3 min read
The expert view
For weight-loss programmes to appeal to men, they should involve quick wins, early rewards and a degree of social competitiveness around aesthetic gains, ahead of health-specific requirements. This could involve sport or physical challenges, perhaps focused on strength or stamina
Justin Roberts, the colead author and a professor of nutritional physiology
More on health from The i Paper
Top Gear to return to BBC – everything we know
The BBC has confirmed is returning to the broadcaster. The show has been on hiatus since presenter Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff was almost killed during filming in December 2022.
What we know so far
The BBC’s director of entertainment Ed Havard confirmed the news of the return at the Edinburgh TV Festival on Thursday. He said: “There has been a lot of speculation about this and we can confirm that is coming back.”
2 min read
3 min read
What happened to Flintoff?
Following the crash, the BBC announced would not be returning “for the foreseeable future”, explaining it had “decided to rest the UK show”.
Who will host now?
- Havard declined to comment on reports that Jimmy Carr is being lined up as the show’s new host.
- However, reports claim talks are underway with the comedian.
- Joe Marler, a former rugby player who appeared in last year, is also being eyed by the BBC, according to Deadline.
- No deals are thought to be in place.
4 min read
The back story
- It enjoyed a second life when Chris Harris, Paddy McGuinness and Flintoff took over hosting duties from Matt LeBlanc and Chris Evans, before the crash involving Flintoff occurred.
Liver disease cases linked to obesity up five-fold
Cases of a linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes have risen five-fold in a decade, a study has found.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) happens when in the liver and is left undiagnosed, researchers said.
What are the symptoms?
- Symptoms include feeling very tired or generally unwell, and pain in the abdomen.
- People who are overweight or not active are more likely to develop MASLD.
- Those who have type 2 diabetes, are over 50, or have high blood pressure are also more at risk.
- New diagnoses doubled from 2012 to 2022, and those diagnosed with the condition were three times as likely to have type 2 diabetes, analysis of GP records found.
A closer look at the findings
The study by researchers at Queen Mary University of London and the University of Glasgow found that 2.4 per cent of adults – 283,762 people had the disease in 2022, up from 0.02 per cent (1,300 people) in 2003.
5 min read
2 min read
The expert view
The diagnostic gap remains large compared to expected rates. At-risk groups such as those living with type 2 diabetes and obesity should be identified and -finding actively pursued
researchers at Queen Mary University and University Glasgow
More on health from The i Paper
Thunderstorms expected across England and Wales
Flooding has hit part of the West Midlands as are expected across large areas of England and Wales.
A yellow thunderstorm has been issued from 5am until 10pm on Thursday.
What the warning says
The yellow warning covers swathes of the country, from Norwich and London to Cardiff and Manchester.
Some areas could see 50-75mm of rainfall on Thursday, as well as lightning and hail, which could cause disruption.
Warm temperatures with highs of 27°C or 28°C are expected, and there is a small chance some areas could see more than 75mm of rainfall.
Where the warning is in place
What happened in Birmingham?
There has been significant flooding in Birmingham. A flood warning was issued for the Perry Barr area on Wednesday night due to rising river levels.
The Environment Agency has issued 22 flooding alerts – meaning flooding is possible – in the Midlands and South East.
5 min read
3 min read
The forecast for the rest of the week
- Further heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected on Friday across the UK.
- Further rain will move in on Saturday, followed by a mix of sunshine and showers on Sunday and Monday.
2 min read
Dozens of Britons missing in deadly Nepal flood
More than 160 people have died and hundreds are missing, including , after a devastating flash flood on the Nepal–Tibet border.
What happened?
- Floodwater swept along the Bhote Koshi river in Rasuwa region, in the Himalayas, at around 8.30am local time on Wednesday, destroying roads and washing away houses and bridges.
- More than 40 people were injured in the tragedy and are receiving treatment in hospital.
- Nepali officials said a further 826 people are missing, the majority of them tourists, including 33 Britons.
- Around 2,000 military personnel have been deployed by the Nepali army to assist with search and rescue operations.
What is known about the missing Britons?
Among the 33 Britons missing, 12 were with one tour company. Ram Kumar Adhikari, manager of Alpine Eco Trek, said the group included a 13-year-old girl, with the oldest member aged 65.
He said they had passed Chinese border controls to enter Tibet.
5 min read
2 min read
The flood in pictures
More retailers are expected to make plug-in solar products available in the coming weeks, after new rules allowing their sale in the UK came into force on Thursday.
Wickes and Currys join plug-in solar rush
Wickes said it would be making plug-in solar available to its customers “in the coming weeks”.
Currys said it was working to make these products “available to UK households as soon as possible, including through both our website and larger stores”.
Lidl, Asda, B&Q, Screwfix and Amazon have all expressed interest in the self-install kits and are expected to join the roll-out soon. But none of the firms had any update on when they might be available.
Andrew Moore, UKSOL’s chief executive, said they had pre-orders in the “low thousands” for the company’s single-panel kit at £699 and two-panel kit at £999.
The prices of the kits – also available from UKSOL’s website directly – include VAT but not include home delivery, which may cost more.
“There’s been huge interest,” said Moore. “We can ramp up quite quickly. I think it could take off quite quickly.”
UKSOL plans to launch another four more models in October. A slightly cheaper single-panel kit will be available from £599, said Moore.
Energy minister Martin McCluskey said the Government expects the price of single panel kits to “settle” at between £400 and £600 as more retailers roll them out.
“We saw this with solar across the board over the last 10 years. The price of solar has dramatically reduced. With any new product coming onto the market we would expect the price to settle a wee bit.”
Gareth Simkins, a spokesperson for industry body Solar Energy UK, previously said that as demand is fulfilled and supplies increase, “prices would be expected to fall over time”.
Other plug-in solar manufacturers are expected to meet the new plug and socket compliance rules soon.
One manufacturing source previously told The i Paper that it was “close” to having its products ready for sale with major retailers.
How much you can save each year
The Government has estimated that plug-in solar users will be able to cut their energy bills by £70 to £110 a year.
“We think with a two-panel system could give you more than that [£110 a year],” said UKSOL’s Moore. “But it’s difficult to say how much more. There are so many variables, like shading, location and the weather.”
Matt Parry, of the Renewable Energy Association (RNA), backed the Government estimate of savings. “If devices start being sold at £400 to £600, it could take only four to six years to pay back, which is a really good investment,” said the renewables expert.
“Once it takes off, more products will become available and prices could come down a bit.”
It might be possible to save more than £110 with two-panel systems, Parry added – though performance levels are not well established yet.
Matt West, an electric vehicle (EV) expert with a background in electronics and engineering, has already set up plug-in solar panels that he bought online in July.
West, who runs the YouTube channel, told The i Paper that he is on course to save £300 a year – higher than the Government estimates.
Tenants could face barriers to balcony use
The first UKSOL plug-in kits to go on sale are designed to be set up in gardens rather than clipped onto balconies.
However, a wider range of kits are set to become available in the weeks ahead. The tech is promising for people in flats who have struggled to benefit from traditional rooftop solar in the past.
Many renters will still have to get permission from their landlords to use them – but McCluskey urged landlords not to stand in the way.
The Government has written to the National Landlords Association, making clear that it expects the kits to be looked on “favourably”, said the energy minister, adding: “I don’t see a reason why a landlord should needlessly withdraw consent or not provide consent for that when the safety case is robust.”
Decisions on whether to approve residents’ requests are still a matter for landlords, building freeholders or councils.
A study commissioned by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) found it was “uncertain” whether plug-in panels attached to balconies or walls would need planning permission.
The charity Electrical Safety First (ESF) has concerns that plug-in solar panels may damage an older generation of residual current devices (RCDs) – the switches protecting people from an electric shock.
Plug-in solar buyers should still “consult a competent electrician” if they are unsure if they have an appropriate RCD, said ESF’s technical director Luke Osborne.
The charity also urged people not to connect plug-in solar through extension leads or adapters. It raises the risk of devices overheating.