Katie White MP has welcomed a major Labour government reform allowing families across Great Britain to use plug-in solar panels for the first time.
From 27 August, approved plug-in solar systems can legally be bought and connected to household electricity supplies in England, Scotland and Wales.
The technology offers a simpler and more affordable route into renewable energy, particularly for renters, people living in flats and households without a suitable roof for conventional solar panels.
White, Labour MP for Leeds North West and Minister for Climate Transition, appeared in a government video explaining how the easy-to-install technology works and how it could help families reduce their electricity bills.
In a post on X, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said:
“More families are set to save money on bills as plug-in solar panels become legal across Great Britain today.”
A plug-in solar kit can generate up to 800 watts of electricity, potentially supplying as much as 20 per cent of an average household’s electricity use and saving up to £110 a year.
When the sun is shining, a system could generate enough electricity to power several everyday appliances simultaneously, including a fridge, television, Wi-Fi router, laptop, phone charger and games console.
Unlike conventional rooftop solar systems, plug-in panels do not require an expensive professional installation. Electricity generated by the panels is converted into a form suitable for household use and supplied through an ordinary plug socket.
The government says the change follows rigorous independent safety testing of the technology’s key electrical components.
Only products meeting Britain’s approved technical and safety requirements can be sold for use in this way. The UK specification is stricter than the standard operating in Germany, where around half a million new plug-in solar devices were connected last year.
Panels can be placed in suitable outdoor spaces or, in some circumstances, attached to balconies.
Consumers are being advised to check that any device appears on the approved product list and to consider whether permission is required before purchasing or installing it.
Renters may need approval from their landlord, while leaseholders could require consent from a building owner or freeholder. Planning permission or listed-building consent may also be necessary in some locations.
Major retailers including Amazon, Argos, B&Q, Currys, Screwfix and Wickes have worked with the government on the rollout and are expected to make approved products available online and in stores.
The move will help widen access to clean energy beyond homeowners able to install full rooftop systems.
Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh said plug-in solar would give more households an affordable way to take control of their energy use and begin saving money immediately.
The reform forms part of the Labour government’s wider programme to reduce household bills, expand clean homegrown power and limit Britain’s exposure to volatile international gas markets.
It follows the government’s decision to cut VAT on household energy bills, alongside the £150 reduction announced in the previous Budget and the expansion of the Warm Home Discount to around six million households.
Demand for solar power is already reaching record levels. Almost 150,000 certified solar-panel systems were installed during the first six months of 2026—17 per cent more than the previous record at the beginning of 2025.
That is equivalent to a new certified solar installation every 74 seconds.
Battery installations have also grown rapidly, with 36,000 certified systems installed during the same period—almost twice the number recorded a year earlier.
Conventional rooftop solar can save suitable households up to £480 annually, but the upfront cost and installation requirements have prevented many renters and flat owners from benefiting.
By legalising smaller plug-in systems, Labour is putting clean energy within reach of many more families and giving people greater control over the electricity they use.
The change demonstrates how practical clean-energy policies can support the transition to net zero while delivering direct financial benefits for households.
