- The UK government has quietly revealed when plug-in solar will be legal
- The law change will come into effect from August 27
- The panels could save you up to £110 a year on your energy bills
The UK government has quietly revealed when plug-in solar panels will become legal to buy in the country — and the magic date is August 27.
The date (spotted by Engadget) is hidden away in these amended ‘Plugs and Sockets’ regulations for the UK. These are “coming into force” from August 27 and effectively legalise plug-in solar panels, which currently exist in a legal grey area.
Right now, it isn’t legal to send electricity into a wall socket to power your appliances or other tech. But these amendments make a new exemption for so-called plug-in solar, provided the new kit meets some strict criteria.
Specifically, your solar setup can’t output more than 800W of power and also can’t “import electrical energy” from your house to be stored and used later. This date also isn’t necessarily when we’ll see plug-in solar panels — otherwise known as ‘balcony solar’ — go on sale, but refers to when they can be approved to go on shelves.
The government’s research, which included a consultation that ended on June 30, suggests that plug-in panels could start at around £400, and save households up to £70-£110 a year on their energy bills. You also shouldn’t need professional installation nor planning permission, unlike regular rooftop panels.
While the legal amendments have unfortunately come towards the end of the summer, it does mean the government will have hit its target of finalising plug-in solar legislation by the end of the season.
Where will you be able to buy them?
While retailers aren’t committing to exact on-sale dates yet, some major ones have hinted to us that they’ll be keen to stock plug-in solar kits as soon as possible.
John Boumphrey, UK & Ireland Country Manager at, Amazon said: “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 access this technology.”
Lidl could be another store that supports the tech, given it’s already launched its own cheap battery that’s designed for solar systems in Germany. Georgina Hall, Corporate Affairs Director at Lidl GB, told us: “At Lidl GB, we are committed to making sustainable living affordable for everyone and we welcome the Government’s move to modernise regulations in the UK.
“Updating the regulatory landscape for this ‘plug-and-play’ technology is a positive step towards empowering British households to manage their energy costs and support the nation’s net-zero ambitions.”
Last month, we also saw that Asda, Currys, B&Q, Wickes, and Screwfix had met with the Minister for Energy Consumers, Martin McCluskey, to discuss balcony solar panels. “Plug-in panels can be transformative for renters or those on lower incomes, so I welcome the conversation today with household names such as B&Q and Currys showing a huge amount of support for getting the panels in people’s homes,” McCluskey said.
So if you’re interested in plug-in solar panels, you shouldn’t be short of options from traditional high street names — let’s just hope the sun is still shining by then.
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mark.wilson@futurenet.com (Mark Wilson)
