Money-saving plug-in solar panels will be available in UK shops within months but they are already available online
Bethan Shufflebotham Senior Shopping Writer
15:33, 30 Mar 2026
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EcoFlow’s solar panels are available on Amazon(Image: Amazon)
Plug-in solar panels will be available in shops “within months” the Government has confirmed, while also announcing that new homes will be constructed with both solar panels and heat pumps fitted. These plug-in solar panels utilise a standard plug socket, enabling them to be attached to various locations around the home including balconies or fencing without any specialist installation.
They are already widespread in Germany, and the Government is collaborating with Amazon and Lidl, together with manufacturers such as EcoFlow, to introduce them to the UK. It means shoppers may shortly encounter solar panels in the Lidl middle aisle, on Prime delivery and at other retailers. They are already available online, however.
For those who cannot wait, EcoFlow solar panels are currently available on Amazon for £449. The EcoFlow STREAM Balcony Solar System, which contains a 800W Micro Inverter, two 450W PV Solar Panels, a Smart Grid-Feed Inverter with Wi-Fi and App Control can be used in any sized outdoor space, be it a balcony, garden, roof or vertical wall.
The panels boast an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 based on 21 reviews on Amazon. One shopper said: “It works great and is easy to install. You can see live the energy production produced by the panels through the app. Production efficiency is very good on sunny days.”
Another added: “Solar panel kits are becoming more and more accessible in terms of price and installation, so I took the plunge and ordered this kit. Nothing to say about the installation, very simple, just connect the panels to the inverter and connect the inverter to a conventional outlet.
“The Ecoflow application is also very well done with a lot of free info available. A subscription allows me to have even more features but I don’t feel the need for them at the moment.”
ECOFLOW STREAM Balcony Solar System
The EcoFlow STREAM Balcony Solar System is an efficient home energy solution that integrates 2 × 450W solar panels with a micro inverter featuring 860W solar input. This balcony solar system feeds clean energy directly into your home, helping you generate up to 780kWh per year and save up to £80 annually on electricity costs.
One had an issue with their Bluetooth connectivity, but said that the brand quickly rectified the issue. They said: “A very good product. It works very well and is quite easy to install and connect to the application. I give 5 stars despite a micro inverter failure after 4 months. (no longer possible to connect to the micro inverter via bluetooth) I contacted the service department via Amazon and the exchange of the micro inverter was done without problems and quickly.”
Lorna Wallace-Smith, head of UK Communications for EcoFlow, commented: “Allowing plug-and-play solar is a very positive step for expanding access to renewable energy in the UK. Seeing these systems available in stores by summer would be a major win for households, enabling people to take advantage of the longer, brighter days and start generating their own clean electricity straight away.
“For many households – particularly those living in flats or rented homes – solar has not always been straightforward. Plug-and-play systems remove that barrier, making it far easier to get started.”
Elsewhere, for something smaller, Argos is selling this Anker SOLIX C300X DC Power Station & SOLIX PS100 Solar Panel for £359, but the code RED20 takes it down to £287.20. The device has five USB outputs, ideal for keeping all essential devices powered on the go, while camping, or during a powder outage.
Meanwhile, the Forclaz Solar Panel SLP 500 V2 – 10W has been reduced from £34.99 to £29.99 at Deathalon. This solar panel is lightweight, easy to carry, and compact in design, but only has one USB output and is recommended to charge a powerbank to charge a phone, rather than charging the phone directly.
Plug-in solar panels are typically affordable panels that households can install themselves on their balconies or outdoor areas. Unlike conventional solar panels, which can be expensive and complicated to fit, these panels are simply plugged into a mains socket like any other appliance.
These devices reduce the quantity of electricity a household draws from the grid, thereby lowering a family’s energy bills. Plug-in panels do not necessitate installation, so the only initial cost is the purchase. Panels are currently available on the market starting from around £400.
Solar panels reduce the volume of electricity being consumed from the grid, decreasing bills and assisting in diminishing the UK’s reliance on unpredictable fossil fuel markets for its electricity provision, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) stated.
The Government estimates that an average UK home could save between £70 and £110 annually on their energy bills through plug-in solar, implying a family could recoup their investment within four to six years. Given that solar panels typically have a 15-year lifespan, households should anticipate approximately nine to ten years of profit after covering the initial expense.