Octopus Energy says it has become the first major energy supplier to roll out plug-in solar panels that can “shrink” your bill over the long term, following new rules coming into force. It comes after compliant plug-in solar panels became legal across Great Britain from Thursday (August 27).
Government backs plug-in solar
Announcing the move on the GOV.UK website, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero explained that the “easy-to-install panels can be plugged into homes across the country, saving households up to £110 a year on their bills through clean, homegrown power”.
“Each plug-in solar kit produces up to 800W of power, enough to provide up to 20% of an average home’s electricity use,” it added. “This can run a typical fridge, television, Wi-Fi router, laptop, phone charger and an Xbox S operating at once when the sun is shining.”
Octopus kits start at £450
With the path now clear to offer these devices commercially, Octopus is touting its own as a means for renters, flat-dwellers and people without a suitable roof to cut their bills in the long term. The firm says their solar kits are made to suit different homes and budgets, and start at £450, with the choice of a one or two-panel setup.
The company estimates households using the two-panel plug-in solar system could save up to £150 over a year, depending on factors including sunlight levels and household energy use. For households who go for two panels, pairing the system with a smart export tariff could mean paying back the cost of the panels in just five and a half years, the firm claims.
Easy installation and expansion
The 460W panels can be mounted on the wall or on the floor and have been designed to capture sunlight from both sides, with customers able to track the electricity generated via the Octopus app. It comes with a standard three-pin plug and a cable stretching 5 metres. Octopus says it has been designed for simple installation, able to be set up in just an hour and moved if people change address.
Octopus says it will also add plug-in solar panels to its Nook Cube plug-in battery, which is launching in early 2027, for households in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. The panels are available to order via the Octopus website.
Rebecca Dibb-Simkin, Chief Product and Marketing Officer at Octopus, said: “Britons love solar – generate your own green power, slash bills, AND get energy independent, what’s not to love.”
“But you shouldn't need a roof to tap into the savings. Plug-in solar democratises cheaper energy, making sure everyone can shrink their bill while helping build a greener grid.”
Plug-in solar panels are also available from Argos, which is reportedly the first major retailer to stock them. Other big high street names are expected to follow.
