Families could soon slash their energy bills under a new Government-backed plan that opens solar power to millions of renters and flat owners. The initiative allows generating electricity from balconies, gardens, and outdoor spaces without professional installation.
Major Retailers Back the Plan
Energy minister Martin McCluskey has won backing from major retailers including Amazon, Asda, B&Q, Currys, Screwfix, and Wickes as ministers prepare to change rules to allow homeowners to install the systems themselves in the coming months.
The Government says the initiative builds on the success of conventional rooftop solar panels, which can already save households up to £480 a year on energy bills. However, the new plug-in versions are expected to deliver more modest savings because they are smaller and generate less electricity.
Expected Savings
Industry estimates suggest households could typically save around £70 to £110 a year, depending on the size of the system, where it is installed, and how much electricity is used during daylight hours.
The attraction is that the systems are expected to cost far less than traditional rooftop installations and can simply be plugged into a standard mains socket. Ministers believe the technology could prove particularly attractive to renters and households on lower incomes who have previously been unable to benefit from solar power.
Retailer Support
At a roundtable meeting with retailers, ministers discussed how plug-in solar could help families reduce their dependence on electricity from the grid. Mr McCluskey said: "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. This easy to install tech can cut people's bills and help make the UK less reliant on global fossil fuel markets."
The low-cost panels can be mounted on balconies, patios, sheds, and garden spaces and generate electricity that can be used directly in the home.
B&Q chief executive Graham Bell said: "We welcome the introduction of plug-in solar panels to the UK market, which will help households to generate their own energy and reduce their bills." Currys director of new categories Michelle Gorringe-Smith said the retailer was "delighted" to be working with the Government and said the technology "could save many households significant amounts on their energy bills".
Safety and Rollout
The Government has simultaneously launched a consultation on safety rules and product standards ahead of a wider rollout. The push comes as solar power enjoys record popularity. Last year saw 269,000 solar installations completed across the UK, the highest annual total on record and 37% higher than the previous year.
Around 255,000 of those installations were rooftop systems on homes, businesses, and other buildings, meaning a new rooftop solar installation was fitted somewhere in Britain roughly every two minutes throughout 2025. Ministers hope plug-in panels will help extend the solar boom to households that have so far been excluded, offering a lower-cost route into renewable energy even if the savings fall well short of the £480 a year available from a full rooftop installation.
