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Two months since plug-in solar became legal on 27 August, and the UK market has moved faster than almost anyone predicted. The ENA G98 Type Test Register — the definitive list of certified compliant kits — has gone from zero to 125 compliant kits from 27 manufacturers as of 20 October 2026. Prices have fallen, new retailers have arrived, and a Lidl launch is looking increasingly imminent.

This is our monthly market update — cutting through the noise to tell you exactly what you can buy, from where, at what price, and what to be careful of.

The Register at a Glance — October 2026

According to Solar Energy Concepts and Balcony Solar Guide UK, both of whom track the ENA register daily:

The pace of growth has been striking: 7 compliant kits at launch on 27 August, 70 by 22 September, 120 by 10 October, 125 by 20 October. The register is still growing but the pace is beginning to settle as the initial wave of manufacturers completes certification.

Who's Actually Selling — The Honest Retailer Picture

This remains the most important question for buyers — and the picture is still more complicated than the government's original March 2026 announcements suggested.

Retailers confirmed stocking certified kits as of late October 2026:

Still nothing from most of the government's named partners:

As of 20 October 2026 — nearly eight months after being named by DESNZ — Lidl, Aldi, B&Q, Screwfix, Wickes and Asda have no verified certified kits on sale. Currys is the one partial exception (see below).

Currys — The One to Watch Carefully

Currys has taken its first step — listing two InstaGen ONE kits at £499 and £599. This matters: Currys is the UK's largest electrical retailer and their involvement signals mainstream retail arrival.

However, there's an important caveat flagged by Solar Energy Concepts: both Currys kits were out of stock as of 10 October, and neither product page gives a model number to check against the ENA register. Before buying from Currys, ask for the exact ENA register reference — a legitimate certified kit should be able to provide it immediately. Don't pay without that reference.

The Lidl Launch Is Looking Imminent

This is the most significant development since our last update. VALE GmbH — the German company that supplies Lidl's balcony solar kits in Germany — now has two UK ENA approvals, for what appear to be two versions of a 900W kit closely matching kits Lidl sells in Germany.

As Cool Power Co notes, VALE's UK register entries don't confirm a Lidl launch — a manufacturer can be on the register without a retailer agreement in place — but it's the strongest signal yet that a Lidl UK product is in preparation. Lidl Germany sells equivalent kits from €219, suggesting UK pricing could be highly competitive.

There's still no confirmed UK product, price or launch date from Lidl GB. We'll update this article when that changes.

Prices — What to Expect in October 2026

The entry price for a compliant plug-in solar kit has fallen significantly since launch. Here's the current landscape by budget:

Budget What's available Notes
Under £400 CPS 1× DME-525W + Hoymiles HF-800 from City Plumbing at £360 Single panel, 525W, lower output but certified
£449 EcoFlow STREAM Facade 800W / PatioSun Lite Two panels, 800W — best value entry at this price
£450–£500 Octopus Energy single panel kit, Solarfy Solo 455 Single panel options — good for tight spaces
£499–£549 EcoFlow STREAM Garden/Ground Kit (on sale from £649) Freestanding, no drilling — verify ENA reference before ordering
£549–£650 Thunder Bolt 920W, Octopus two-panel bundle, UKSOL Duo 890W (Argos) Two panels, 800W+; good for maximising annual output

Prices checked at time of writing — verify before purchasing.

EcoFlow Update — The Garden/Ground Mount

In our previous article on EcoFlow's certification we flagged that balcony and ground mounts were missing from their ENA register entry. The EcoFlow STREAM Garden/Ground Kit is now available on the EcoFlow UK store from £499 (currently on sale from £649), listed as in stock.

Buyers should verify the exact ENA register reference for their specific configuration before purchasing — the register situation for EcoFlow's mount variants has moved quickly and it's worth confirming the kit you're ordering carries a Compliant listing. Ask EcoFlow customer support for the ENA reference if it's not shown on the product page. The facade and roof mount kits (ECOFL/21128/V1/A3) remain the definitively confirmed compliant entries.

The garden/ground mount is particularly valuable for buyers without a suitable wall or roof — it's freestanding, requires no drilling, and can be positioned to optimise for south-facing sun regardless of which direction your walls face.

The Octopus Energy Catch

Octopus Energy has entered the market with its own-brand kits — one or two 460W JA Solar panels with a wall or ground mount, starting at £450 for a single panel, £650 for two. The kits are ENA-compliant and come with Octopus's own monitoring.

There's a significant catch: Octopus will only pay Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) income to customers who bought their own kit. If you buy a kit from any other brand and later want SEG export payments from Octopus, their policy currently excludes you. SEG payments for plug-in solar are small and not universally available yet — but it's worth knowing before you commit to a supplier.

The Amazon Warning — Still Relevant

With more certified kits available and prices falling, the temptation to buy a cheap-looking kit on Amazon remains — and the risk remains too. Many kits on Amazon with UK plugs and positive reviews are not on the ENA register as Compliant. Plugging in a non-compliant kit is illegal under SI 2026/848 and could affect your home insurance.

The check takes 30 seconds: visit energynetworks.org, find the ENA Connect Direct Type Test Register, filter to Plug-in Solar, and search for your specific product. If it's not there as Compliant, don't plug it in.

Realistic Savings — Honest Numbers

With electricity prices at 26.32p/kWh from October 2026, realistic annual savings from a well-positioned 800W system are £43–£175 per year depending on self-consumption rate and location. The government's frequently cited £100–£250 range is achievable at the upper end for ideal conditions — south-facing, shade-free, someone home during daylight hours in southern England. A home empty all day in the north of England will be closer to the lower end.

Buying in October also means limited generation until spring — the real test of any kit's performance comes April through September. That's not a reason not to buy now, but set realistic expectations for the first few months.

Before You Buy — The Most Important Step

With 125 certified kits and prices from £336, the practical barrier to buying has effectively gone. What remains is the question of whether your specific outdoor space is actually suitable.

The direction your panel faces, how much shade it receives, and where in the UK you live determine whether a kit saves you £150 a year or £40 — at exactly the same price. That's the question worth answering before spending anything.

SolarSnap is a free app that tells you in 60 seconds whether your specific outdoor space is Excellent, Good, Fair or Poor for plug-in solar — based on your GPS location, compass direction, tilt angle, and real solar irradiance data for your area. There's an optional one-off upgrade for a full annual yield and savings estimate in pounds.

Key Points at a Glance — October 2026

This article is updated monthly. Next update expected late November 2026.

Sources

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