The stores where you will be able to buy plug-in solar panels in the UK
Key Points
- Which stores will sell plug-in solar panels in the UK? B&Q, Currys, Amazon and Lidl have committed to bringing them to market.
- Other retailers at the government roundtable were Asda, Screwfix and Wickes.
- Plug-in panels plug into a mains socket and need no professional installation.
- A government consultation on safety rules opened on 16 June 2026.
B&Q, Currys, Amazon and Lidl have joined government plans to bring plug-in solar panels to UK homes, opening up high-street and online routes for households to buy the self-install kit.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) confirmed the retailer line-up on Tuesday (16 June) following a roundtable with some of the country’s largest sellers, which between them operate almost 4,000 stores alongside major online operations.
The retailers which will be selling the plug-in solar panels include:
- Amazon
- Asda
- B&Q
- Currys
- Screwfix
- Wickes
They discussed how the technology can offer a cheaper route for people to cut their energy bills. The move follows rule changes announced earlier this year that will allow UK homeowners to self-install plug-in solar panels in the coming months.
Plug-in solar panels, also marketed as “plug-and-play” technology, can be placed on balconies or in any outdoor space and feed free solar power directly through a mains socket like any other device, without an installation cost.
The set-up reduces the amount of electricity a household draws from the grid. The government said the kit is already widely used across Europe and pointed to existing rooftop savings of up to £480 as a benchmark for the bill reductions on offer.
Martin McCluskey, Minister for Energy Consumers, said plug-in panels could be transformative for renters and those on lower incomes, and welcomed the level of support shown by household names such as B&Q and Currys for getting the panels into people’s homes.
He said the technology can cut bills and help make the UK less reliant on global fossil fuel markets.
John Boumphrey, UK and Ireland Country Manager at Amazon, said enabling households to generate their own power with self-install plug-in solar was a practical step that supports household budgets, noting Amazon is the largest corporate buyer of carbon-free energy in the UK and has invested in more than 40 large-scale solar and wind projects.
Graham Bell, CEO of B&Q, said the retailer welcomed the introduction of plug-in solar to the UK market and was working closely with government and suppliers to shape the guidance, ensuring any products it offers are safe, compliant and straightforward to install.
Michelle Gorringe-Smith, Director of New Categories at Currys, said the safe roll-out of the products marked an important step for consumers, adding that more than 80% of UK households shop at Currys.
Georgina Hall, corporate affairs director at Lidl GB, said a clear, robust framework could unlock a low-cost route for people to reduce their energy bills.
Alongside the roundtable, the government has also launched a consultation seeking industry views on enforcing the rules so consumers can safely install plug-in panels at home.
The announcement comes as UK solar uptake hits record levels. The government said 2025 saw 269,000 solar installations completed across the UK, the highest total ever recorded in a calendar year and 37% larger than the year before.
Around 255,000 of those were rooftop installations, meaning at least 95% of all new solar was fitted on homes, businesses and other buildings, the equivalent of a new rooftop solar installation every two minutes throughout the year.
