Households can save hundreds off bills as plug-in solar panels come to market

Main image credit: Maximilian Steyger/DESNZ

More families are set to save money on bills as plug-in solar panels become legal across Great Britain.

From today (27 August 2026), the easy-to-install panels can be plugged into homes across the country, saving households up to £100 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. Read our plug-in solar panel checklist to find out more.

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.

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.”