Plug-in solar
Where to Buy Plug-In Solar Panels in the UK, and What to Check
Compliant plug-in solar kits are sold by big retailers, energy suppliers and specialist sellers in the UK. Who sells them, prices in 2026 and what to check.
Key facts
- On 26 August 2026 the government said Amazon, Argos, Currys and Wickes had committed to stocking plug-in solar kits.
- An independent tracker counted 121 of 134 plug-in devices listed as compliant on the ENA Type Test Register on 15 October 2026.
- Compliant kits on sale in October 2026 ranged from about £336 for one panel to about £989 for the largest kit.
- We found no Lidl or Aldi plug-in solar kit on sale in Great Britain on 3 November 2026.
- Online purchases carry a 14-day cancellation right, and faulty goods a 30-day right to reject under UK consumer law.
You can buy plug-in solar kits in the UK from large retailers, energy suppliers, manufacturers and specialist online sellers. The government said in August 2026 that Amazon, Argos, Currys and Wickes had committed to stocking them. In October 2026, compliant kits cost from about £336 to £989. The seller matters less than the model: it must be listed as compliant on the ENA Type Test Register.
Who sells plug-in solar in the UK
Plug-in solar became legal in Great Britain on 27 August 2026, and the market filled quickly. An independent tracker that reads the Energy Networks Association (ENA) Type Test Register daily counted 121 of 134 plug-in devices listed as compliant on 15 October 2026, of which it had found 23 on sale at a price it could check. Many registered products were not yet in shops. We have not verified the tracker’s counts against the register ourselves.
Voltgeber sells nothing and takes no commission. The names below are those given in government announcements and company statements, not recommendations, and we do not rank sellers.
| Type of seller | Who, as of November 2026 | Strengths | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| National retailers | Amazon, Argos, Currys and Wickes, named on 26 August 2026 as committed to stocking kits; the government also worked with B&Q and Screwfix | Familiar returns process, sometimes in-store collection | Exact model number on the ENA register; whether it is sold by the retailer or a third-party seller |
| Energy suppliers | Octopus Energy, selling bundles by September 2026; British Gas invited customers in August to register interest in buying a kit when available | Support from your supplier; Octopus offers its kit buyers an export tariff | Whether you must be or become their electricity customer; delivery times |
| Manufacturers and their UK shops | Brands selling direct; the government named EcoFlow in March 2026 as a manufacturer working on the UK market | Direct warranty and technical support | UK support contact and warranty terms; which mounting types are included |
| Specialist online sellers | Solar and electrical specialists listing several brands | Wider range, including mounts for unusual spaces | Seller’s address and returns policy; whether listings name the ENA register entry |
| Online marketplaces | Third-party sellers on marketplace platforms | Low prices | Many listings are not compliant devices; see the warning below |
| Supermarkets | None found in Great Britain: no Lidl or Aldi UK kit on 3 November 2026 | A future offer would have to meet the same specification |
The government’s 24 March 2026 announcement named Lidl and Iceland as retailers working with it. Neither was in the list of retailers committed to stocking kits in August, and we found no Lidl or Aldi kit for sale in Great Britain on 3 November 2026. See Lidl plug-in solar panels and Lidl vs Aldi kits.
What kits cost
| Kit type | Price range, October 2026 | Panel capacity |
|---|---|---|
| One panel, 800 W microinverter | about £336 to £600 | 460 to 525 W |
| Two panels, 800 W microinverter | about £444 to £900 | 890 to 1,030 W |
| Larger or premium kits | about £750 to £989 | 920 to 1,260 W where stated |
These ranges come from an independent tracker that listed 25 kits verified on the ENA register on 8 October 2026; prices change weekly. As one example from a seller’s own statement, Octopus Energy priced its bundles at £450 for one panel and £650 for two on 1 October 2026, and said its first 500 kits sold out in about two weeks. Prices include 20 percent VAT, because the zero rate for solar applies to installation services, not to goods you install yourself. For what each price band buys, see £400 plug-in solar kits.
The marketplace warning
Many respondents to the government’s consultation described the pre-August market as a grey market, and those listings have not disappeared. On marketplaces you will still find:
- kits with a European Schuko plug and a UK adaptor, which the specification prohibits;
- microinverters sold without a plug, for hard-wiring by an electrician, which are not plug-in devices;
- “balcony power stations” with built-in batteries, which are outside the UK rules; see plug-in solar with a battery;
- inverters rated above 800 W.
None of these is lawful to plug into a socket in Great Britain. A listing that says “UK legal” or “800W compliant” proves nothing by itself. The London Fire Brigade advises buying only from trusted manufacturers and retailers, because poor-quality or counterfeit products may not meet UK safety standards.
Checks before you pay
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Find the exact model number. Not the brand or the kit name: the model of the device as registered.
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Check it on the ENA Type Test Register. The specification requires each device to be registered and confirmed as compliant before it goes on sale. A device listed as submitted or not currently compliant does not count. The register is on the Energy Networks Association website.
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Read the box contents. A moulded UK 13 A plug, an 800 VA or smaller inverter, the panels, a mounting system for your type of space, the consumer unit label, and instructions with a QR code for notifying your network operator.
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Check the mount fits your space and height. Railing, wall, flat roof or ground stand, and the maximum installation height for your floor. See how to mount a panel on a balcony railing.
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Check the seller’s details. A UK address or support contact, the warranty terms for panels and inverter, and who handles claims. The specification requires technical support contact details for the manufacturer or retailer.
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Check returns and delivery. Panels are large and heavy; find out whether delivery is to the kerb or the door, and who pays to send one back.
Your rights as a buyer
Plug-in kits are consumer goods, so normal UK consumer law applies.
- Buying online or by phone. The Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 normally give you 14 days from delivery to cancel for any reason. The seller may make you pay the cost of returning the goods if it told you so before you bought, which matters for a 20 to 25 kg panel.
- Faulty goods. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, goods must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described. You have 30 days to reject faulty goods for a full refund, and after that a right to repair or replacement.
- Marketplace sellers. Your rights are against the seller, not the platform. A seller based outside the UK can be much harder to pursue.
Second-hand kits
A used kit can be a sound buy if it is a compliant model, complete and undamaged. Check the model on the ENA register, insist on the original plug, mount, label and instructions, and inspect the cables and plug for damage. Kits bought before 27 August 2026 were mostly not compliant devices. Remember the network rules: the seller should notify their network operator that the device has been decommissioned, and you notify yours when you connect it. See telling your DNO.
Before you buy anything
Decide the spot first, then the product. Check the direction your space faces, the shade, the socket, your consumer unit and any permission you need from a landlord or freeholder. Only one plug-in device is allowed per household, so buy the capacity you want in one kit. Our guide to how to choose a plug-in solar kit sets out the criteria that separate one compliant kit from another.
Next steps
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy plug-in solar panels in the UK?
From large retailers, energy suppliers, manufacturers selling direct and specialist online sellers. The government named Amazon, Argos, Currys and Wickes as committed to stocking kits in August 2026, and Octopus Energy was selling its own bundles by September 2026. Whoever you buy from, check the exact model is listed as compliant on the ENA Type Test Register.
Can I buy plug-in solar at Lidl or Aldi in the UK?
Not as of 3 November 2026. Lidl was named by the government as a retailer working on plug-in solar in March 2026, but we found no kit on its UK site and no Aldi UK kit or announcement. Both sell kits in Germany under German rules, which do not meet the UK specification.
Are plug-in solar kits on Amazon or eBay legal in the UK?
Some are and many are not. Marketplaces list compliant kits alongside European kits with Schuko plugs, kits sold for hard-wiring and kits with batteries. Only a model listed as compliant on the ENA Type Test Register, with a moulded UK plug and no battery, may legally be plugged in.
How much does a plug-in solar kit cost in the UK?
In October 2026, compliant kits ranged from about £336 for a single panel with an 800 W microinverter to about £989 for the largest kit, with two-panel kits from about £444. Octopus Energy listed its one- and two-panel bundles at £450 and £650 on 1 October 2026.
Can I return a plug-in solar kit if it is not right?
If you bought online or by phone, you normally have 14 days from delivery to cancel under the Consumer Contracts Regulations, though you may have to pay to return a heavy panel. If the kit is faulty, the Consumer Rights Act gives you 30 days to reject it for a refund.
Should I buy a second-hand plug-in solar kit?
Only if you can identify the exact model on the ENA register as compliant, it has its original plug, mount, label and instructions, and it is undamaged. The seller should notify their network operator that they removed it, and you notify yours when you plug it in.
Sources
- Households can save as plug-in solar panels come to market (26 August 2026)
- Government to make plug-in solar available within months (24 March 2026)
- Plug-in Solar Device Interim Product Specification, version 2.0, July 2026, section 7
- Register update: 1 device newly compliant, 121 of 134 (15 October 2026)
- 800W plug-in solar kits UK: verified kits and prices (checked 8 October 2026)
- Octopus plug-in solar sells out in a fortnight as bills soar (1 October 2026)
- Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, regulation 30
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 22
- Plug-in solar panels: safety advice for residents and homeowners
- Energy Networks Association (Type Test Register)
- British Gas to help more Brits generate their own power as plug-in solar arrives (28 August 2026)
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or electrical advice. Your utility, state and local code have the final say.