Lidl is set to sell plug-in solar panels for around £400 in the UK, as the government moves to make the technology easier for households to adopt. The supermarket is among several retailers, including Iceland and solar brand EcoFlow, working with ministers on plans to bring approved plug-in solar kits to the British market.
Plug-in solar panels, also known as balcony solar panels, are small kits designed to feed electricity into a home without the cost or disruption of a full rooftop installation. A typical kit includes one or more panels and a microinverter, and can be placed on balconies, patios, garden walls or sheds. They are particularly appealing to renters, flat owners and those without suitable roofs.
The government estimates that some households could save between £70 and £110 a year on energy bills, though actual savings depend on factors such as sunlight exposure and daytime electricity use. With a kit costing £400 to £500, the payback period could be four to seven years in favourable conditions.
However, experts caution that plug-in solar panels are not a like-for-like alternative to rooftop solar. They generate far less electricity and will not take a home off-grid. Consumers are advised to wait for UK-approved products and follow manufacturer instructions, rather than buying imported kits designed for different electrical rules.
