Plug-in solar panels became legal to buy and use across Great Britain on 27 August 2026, and retailers including Argos, Currys, B&Q, Screwfix, Amazon and Wickes have committed to stocking them1. Electrical Safety First has since advised that households should have at least a Type A bidirectional RCD protecting the circuits intended for use with the panels, and that homes with Type AC RCDs should not use plug-in solar without first upgrading to a minimum Type A bidirectional RCD on those circuits3.
The safety body's wording was reported as follows:
Where a circuit board has to be upgraded, the reported cost is around £900 to £1,2003. Plugging panels into a unidirectional circuit can cause damage and pose a potential fire hazard, and failing to have wiring checked by a qualified electrician risks voiding a home insurance policy3. Newer properties may already have bidirectional circuit boards3.
The government says plug-in solar could save around £70 to £110 per year on energy bills1, while the Energy Saving Trust puts the figure at up to £100 a year2. Each kit produces up to 800W, enough for up to 20% of an average home's electricity use2. Argos stock was reported at between £599 and £1,1991, with panels also described as available from around £4603. Buyers must tell their electricity Distribution Network Operator within 28 days of connecting the panels1.
The legal change sits alongside record installation figures. Nearly 172,000 solar installations were fitted across the UK since the start of 2026, with nearly 28,000 completed in July 2026 and rooftop solar accounting for more than seven in ten July installations4. The government's first regional breakdown gave the following totals:
| Region | Installations in 2026 | Total installations | Change since July 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| South East | 22,628 | 305,101 | +14% |
| South West | 17,539 | 271,400 | +13% |
| East of England | 18,109 | 241,195 | +15% |
| East Midlands | 15,981 | 182,606 | +17% |
| North West | 15,927 | 186,253 | +16% |
Wales recorded an 18% rise, Scotland 14% and the North East 11%4.
Why it matters for households
Plug-in solar is marketed on the basis that it needs no installer and no roof work, which puts a plug-in solar kit within reach of renters, flat dwellers and households that cannot fund a full solar PV system. The RCD question changes the arithmetic for some of them. A £900 to £1,200 consumer unit upgrade is several times the annual saving the government estimates, and it is a fixed cost that stays with the property rather than moving with the panels. Homes with a modern bidirectional board face no such outlay.
For a household, the practical difference is between generating part of its own electricity from a balcony or garden and continuing to buy all of it from the grid. The panels do not remove the need for a grid connection, and the Energy Saving Trust notes that savings vary from home to home2. Renters also face a question over whether landlord, freeholder, planning or listed building consent applies before installing2; the government has issued no clear guidance for tenants1.
What happens next
A central registration website was due to launch when plug-in solar became available on 27 August 20261. Retailers including Currys, B&Q, Screwfix and Amazon were preparing to roll the products out in stores and online4. Electrical Safety First's concerns about RCDs are described as unresolved3; no date has been reported for their resolution.
Sources4 cited
- Plug-in solar panels UK: cost, savings & are they worth it - Uswitch, uswitch.com
- Plug-in solar panels available in Great Britain - Energy Saving Trust, energysavingtrust.org.uk
- My home electrics are incompatible with plug-in solar panels | Ideal Home, idealhome.co.uk
- First regional solar breakdown as installations hit record highs - GOV.UK, gov.uk