Case study: Supporting the digital energy transition in your local authority or municipality: Plug and play solar panels
2. Factsheet
Plug and play solar panels are becoming increasingly popular across Europe, with Germany installing one million systems between 2022-2025. Policies such as VAT exemption, tax breaks and rebates for small balcony systems are supporting adoption. In this fact sheet you will:
- Find out what plug and play solar panels are.
- Explore some benefits of plug and play solar panels.
- Understand some of the barriers that need to be overcome to expand use of plug and play solar panels.
- Consider the example of plug and play solar in Belgium.
Explore some further resources on plug and play solar panels:
- Review the March 2025 Solar for all: a deep dive on a fast-emerging solar segment report.
- Read more about the European Commission’s strategy in The European Commission published its Citizens Energy Package and Clean Energy Investment Strategy.
- Find out how Germany has been leading the way in this March 2026 Euronews article Germany has become a leader in plug-in solar. What’s taking other European countries so long?
- Due to the war in Iran, in March 2026 the UK government announced that plug and play solar panels will be available nationwide later in the year.