All shops where you could soon buy £400 plug-in solar panels – from Asda to Lidl

Plug-in solar panels could soon hit the shelves in shops like Lidl, B&Q and Currys as the Government rushes to amend safety rules that would allow people to install them at home.

Earlier this year, ministers promised to change the regulations to make the panels – which are lightweight and can be plugged directly into a mains socket to provide free electricity – available in British retailers by this summer.

The plans took a step forward on Tuesday when the Government published the results of a safety review that found the panels are compatible with UK homes.

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Retailers including Lidl, Amazon and B&Q attended a roundtable with the Minister for Energy Consumers Martin McCluskey to discuss stocking the panels.

However, some experts warned the safety regulations are being rushed and said the Government’s timeline of having the panels in store for this summer was “unrealistic”.

The following retailers have all expressed interest in selling plug-in solar panels when the safety rules are changed:

Amazon

Asda

B&Q

Currys

Lidl

Screwfix

Wickes

However, it is understood these plans are still in early stages and retailers are not yet able to put a date on when they might become available.

When could plug-in solar become available?

Changing the safety regulations is a long process that could potentially take years. However, the Government has proposed introducing an “interim product specification” that could allow plug-in solar panels to be used in the UK if they meet certain standards.

The Government said it intends to introduce this standard “within months”, and launched a consultation on Tuesday to gather evidence on whether this is feasible.

The consultation is open until 30 June and ministers have said they will publish a summary of responses by 22 July – meaning the changes will not come in before this date.

Gary Parker, Deputy Director of Technical at the Electrical Contractors’ Association told The i Paper there were concerns within the industry over issues including fire safety and building insurance.

Organisations including the Institute of Engineering and Technology, the largest professional engineering society in Europe, and the charity Electrical Safety First have raised concerns over whether plug-in solar is compatible with the UK’s old housing stock.

An independent review commissioned by the Government has indicated plug-in solar can be used safely in the UK, but Parker said there needs to be “more checking on this” and that the timelines being set are “unrealistic”.

How much will plug-in solar cost – and save?

Prices start at around £400 and Government research has found they can save a household between £70 and £110 a year on their energy bills.

They are popular in Germany, where millions of households are already using them to save money.

However, questions remain over whether plug-in solar will take off in the UK, particularly as UK housing rules make it difficult for leaseholders and renters to obtain permission.

Climate Minister Katie White previously told The i Paper the Government could change the law if landlords and building owners refuse to let households get solar.