Lidl and Amazon are set to begin selling plug-in solar panels in the UK within months under new government plans to open up the retail market for low-cost home energy technology.
According to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, ministers are working with major retailers and manufacturers to bring “plug-and-play” solar units to shop shelves, with prices expected to start at around £400. The devices, which can be plugged directly into a household socket, are designed to cut electricity bills by reducing reliance on grid power.
The government said the products could save households between £70 and £110 a year, with typical payback periods of around four years. The rollout will require changes to UK electrical regulations, which currently prevent such systems from being sold domestically despite widespread adoption in European markets such as Germany.
Energy secretary Ed Miliband said the move formed part of a broader effort to shield consumers from volatile global energy markets, stating: “Whether through solar panels fitted as standard on new homes or making it possible for people to purchase plug-in solar in shops, we are determined to roll out clean power so we can give our country energy sovereignty.”
Retailers have signalled support for the initiative as a way to bring energy technology into mainstream consumer channels. Georgina Hall, corporate affairs director at Lidl GB, said the changes would help make sustainable products more accessible, adding that updating regulations was “a positive step towards empowering British households to manage their energy costs”.
Manufacturers also expect strong demand as barriers to entry fall. Lorna Wallace-Smith, head of UK communications at EcoFlow, said allowing plug-in solar would be “a very positive step for expanding access to renewable energy”, adding that availability in stores by summer would enable households to “start generating their own clean electricity straight away”.
The retail push forms part of a wider policy package that includes mandating solar panels and heat pumps in most new homes from 2028, although ministers are positioning plug-in solar as a faster route for existing households to access renewable energy.
However, technical concerns remain over safety and compatibility with the UK’s ageing housing stock. The BBC reported that Mark Coles, head of technical regulations at the Institution of Engineering and Technology, warned homeowners should have their electrical systems checked before installing such devices, noting that safety could vary significantly between properties.
The government said it would work with regulators and network operators to update wiring standards and ensure appropriate safeguards ahead of the retail launch.
OpenAI overhaul targets unified app and sharper enterprise focus
Technology ‘reshaping’ crime to make it more harmful, says NCA director
Europe’s AI lag could forfeit a decade of productivity gains, warns ECB chief economist
Mastercard unveils new generative AI model in partnership with Nvidia
Meta AI agent causes internal data breach after responding to wrong user
EU moves closer to banning non-consensual AI sexual images
UK-China tech links deepen as West England group plans trade mission and discovery tour
Samsung to spend over $70bn on AI chip development in bid to retake lead
OpenAI plans hiring surge to bolster enterprise AI push
Starling rolls out agentic AI assistant to help manage daily finances
UK government backs plug-in solar sales and mandates panels on new homes
OpenAI to shut Sora app as strategy pivots to coding
Pinterest launches shoppable streaming series
SoftBank commits a further $30bn to OpenAI, testing investor confidence
Europe’s AI lag could forfeit a decade of productivity gains, warns ECB chief economist
Musk liable for Twitter investors’ losses due to his tweets, jury finds
Starling rolls out agentic AI assistant to help manage daily finances
UK-China tech links deepen as West England group plans trade mission and discovery tour
Most European firms rolling out AI without proper safety or governance, ISACA warns
OpenAI plans hiring surge to bolster enterprise AI push
The Sustainable Data Center: Getting More Done, and Leaving Less Behind
Get ahead in the cloud with Daisy: 7 benefits of Microsoft Azure
Bright Data acquires Market Beyond to add digital shelf analytics to its data offerings
Research reveals use of web content tools is expected to grow as internet restrictions continue to tighten
Influencing the social web space with public data
