---
title: Plug-in Solar Panels Will Be Sold in UK Supermarkets Within Months
description: The UK has legalised plug-in solar panels from around £400. Lidl and Amazon will stock them as part of a package mandating heat pumps in new homes from 2028.
author: Darie Nani (Editor-in-Chief)
date: 2026-03-24T22:18:03.334Z
updated: 2026-05-22T08:08:12.729Z
canonical: https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/plug-in-solar-panels-uk-supermarkets
image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/plug-in-solar-panels-uk-balcony-v2.webp
categories: Green Tech
content_type: News
region: United Kingdom
publication: Sovereign Magazine
access: members
about:
  - type: Organization
    name: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
    description: The UK government department responsible for energy policy, achieving net zero emissions, and ensuring energy security. DESNZ oversees electricity markets, renewable energy deployment, and the regulatory framework for domestic energy generation.
    url: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-energy-security-and-net-zero
    industry: Government
    sameAs:
      - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_for_Energy_Security_and_Net_Zero
---

The UK government has cleared the way for plug-in solar panels to be sold in high street shops and supermarkets, with units expected on shelves within months at prices starting around £400.

The announcement, part of a broader clean energy package from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, marks a significant shift in UK energy policy. Until now, balcony and plug-in solar systems were effectively banned under BS 7671 wiring regulations, which required all solar installations to be hardwired by a certified electrician. The regulatory change brings the UK in line with Germany, where over one million balcony solar systems are already in use.

## How plug-in solar panels work

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