DIY solar panels are popular in Germany, where they are known as Balkonkraftwerke (balcony power plants).Photograph: Ronald Rampsch/AlamyBritish households will be able to buy plug-in solar panels later this summer after the government changed the law so the UK's biggest retailers could bring them to market for the first time. People across the country will be able to join the millions across Europe generating their own electricity using "balcony solar panels" from 27 August, according to legislation passed last week. These plug-in panels have in recent years become familiar sights on balconies in Spain and in Germany, where they are known as Balkonkraftwerk (balcony power plant). Unlike traditional rooftop solar panels, which require professional installation, balcony solar installations can be plugged into a three-prong wall socket, generating cheap electricity from a balcony, terrace, shed roof or any other outdoor space. The government's move to make plug-in solar lawful is expected to bring "cheap, clean power to households that have not been able to access these benefits before", said Chris Hewett, the chief executive of Solar Energy UK.