Households can save as plug-in solar panels come to market
Households can save hundreds on bills as plug-in solar panels become legal to use and buy across the country.
- Plug-in solar panels now legal to buy and use across the country
- Households could save up to £110 a year, with panels providing up to 20% of average home electricity use
- Savings follow government cuts to VAT on energy bills to offer breathing space this winter
More families are set to save money on bills as plug-in solar panels become legal across Great Britain.
From today (27 August), the easy-to-install panels can be plugged into homes across the country, saving households up to £110 a year on their bills through clean, homegrown power.
Each plug-in solar kit produces up to 800W of power, enough to provide up to 20% of an average home’s electricity use. This can run a typical fridge, television, Wi-Fi router, laptop, phone charger and an Xbox S operating at once when the sun is shining.
This all comes with no installation cost and without taking any electricity from the grid.
The legal changes follow rigorous, independent safety testing, covering all key electrical elements, which shows that compliant panels are safe and compatible with UK wiring.
The UK safety specification is more stringent than that of Germany, where the technology is already widely used and around half a million new devices were plugged in last year.
Homegrown power is the only way to deliver energy security for the country and financial security for families and businesses.
Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh said:
Plug-in solar is a simple, affordable way for households to take control of their energy bills and start saving straight away.
From this summer, we’re giving more families the ability power their homes with clean homegrown energy.
Major retailers, such as Currys, B&Q, Screwfix and Amazon have worked with government on the rollout of plug-in solar and will soon have them available to purchase in stores and online.
The low-cost panels can be put in any outdoor space or on some balconies. Before purchasing or installing plug-in solar devices, people should check whether any permissions are required for the property. This may include permission from a landlord and/or building owner or freeholder permission, planning permission or listed building consent.
Decisions on whether to approve requests are a matter for landlords, freeholders or councils, but we encourage them to consider each case on its individual merits.
Enabling these easy-to-install panels is just one of the ways the government is giving people breathing space to help tackle bills.
In July, the Prime Minister announced plans to cut VAT on energy bills to give families breathing space this winter. This builds on the £150 of costs taken off energy bills in the Budget last year and the expansion of the £150 Warm Home Discount to around six million households.
Retailers including Amazon, Argos, Curry’s and Wickes have all committed to stocking plug-in solar panels.
John Boumphrey, UK & Ireland Country Manager, Amazon said:
Amazon is the largest corporate buyer of carbon-free energy in the UK, and we’ve invested in 50 solar and wind projects to date.
The government’s announcement on plug-in solar panels is a practical step that gives households a simple way to generate their own power, reduce bills, and contribute to the UK’s net zero goals. We’re looking forward to helping customers benefit from this technology.
Graham Biggart, Managing Director for Argos, said:
We’re really pleased to now offer plug-in solar panels for Argos customers. By making this technology more accessible, we’re putting more power in the hands of our customers and helping them explore practical ways to manage energy use at home.
As a brand trusted by millions of customers across the UK, we’re proud to bring innovative products like this to more homes and give customers greater confidence and choice when it comes to emerging home technologies.
Michelle Gorringe-Smith, Director of New Categories at Currys, said:
The safe roll-out of plug-in solar products represents an important step in supporting consumers with ways to save money on their energy bills.
We’ll continue to work closely with DESNZ and our suppliers to make these products available to UK households as soon as possible, including through both our website and larger stores.
David Wood, CEO, Wickes:
By giving people a simpler and more affordable way to generate clean energy at home, this technology has the potential to put solar within reach of many more households.
With the UK having some of the oldest and least energy efficient housing stock in Europe, making energy-saving technologies easier to access will be an important part of helping people reduce their energy bills and supporting the transition to a lower-carbon future.
We look forward to making these products available online to our customers in the coming weeks.
Joanna O’Loan, Knowledge Manager at Energy Saving Trust, said:
The arrival of plug-in solar panels represents a significant milestone in expanding access to clean energy for households across Great Britain.
While the savings will vary from home to home, plug-in solar panels will give more people greater control over their energy use and costs. As these products become more widely available, access to clear and reliable information is essential to help people make informed choices that are right for their home and budget.
Chris Hewitt, CEO Solar Energy UK, said:
This is a great example of Industry and government coming together and delivering quickly for Britain.
Solar and batteries are already the most effective way for homes and businesses to slash their energy bills by more than half, and making plug-in solar lawful will bring cheap, clean power to households that have not been able to access these benefits before.
Our industry continues to work closely with government to ensure that all customers can have confidence in the safety and reliability of these new technologies.
Gary Booker, Managing Director of British Gas, said:
Until now, generating solar power has required the right roof, the right home and significant upfront investment. That’s why innovations like plug-in solar are so important. They open up the benefits of solar to more households, enabling more people to produce some of their own electricity.
At British Gas, we’re pleased to be bringing this technology to our customers, giving them more control over their energy use and helping them save money on their bills.
Trevor Hutchings, CEO of the Renewable Energy Association said:
From today, with little more than a trip to the shops, people in Britain will be able to harness the energy of the sun to power their households.
The arrival of plug-in solar is a huge step forward in democratising renewable energy and giving everyone the access they deserve to clean, cheap, homegrown power. Plug-in solar saves money - up to £100 a year - and it’s only right that this benefit should be felt by renters and flat-owners as well.
Our electricity prices are some of the highest because of our exposure to volatile international gas markets. Innovations like plug-in solar and the wider renewables roll out will help us bring down bills and strengthen our energy sovereignty.
David Boyer, Director of Electricity Systems, at Energy Networks Association, said:
This is a major step forward for incorporating micro generation safely and efficiently onto the UK’s energy grid. Network operators will continue to work closely with government, Ofgem and manufactures to ensure the registration process for micro generation evolves to meet consumer demands.
There is already record demand for solar power across the country. Figures released by MCS recently showed there were almost 150,000 solar panel certified installations in the first six months of 2026, up 17% on the previous highest start to a year in 2025. That is the equivalent to an installation every 74 seconds.
Battery installations have also risen significantly, with installations almost double the same period last year with 36,000 certified installations.
Legalising plug-in solar panels builds on savings homeowners can already make of up to £480 a year from rooftop solar, helping more people in a range of property types generate their own clean electricity and cut their energy bills.
Notes to Editors
We encourage the public to consult the full guidance on installing panels and permissions which may be required for their property.
See a list of accredited devices and manufacturers.
Read the full MCS dataset.