Two weeks after plug-in solar became legal on 27 August, the market has moved faster than almost anyone expected. The ENA G98 Type Test Register has gone from zero certified kits to 47 in under a month. Prices have fallen. New retailers have appeared. And the government's own named retail partners — Lidl, B&Q, Currys — still have nothing on their shelves.

This article cuts through the noise and tells you exactly what you can buy right now, from where, at what price, and what to avoid.

The Register at a Glance — 7 September 2026

As of 7 September 2026, according to Plugin Solar Calculator and Balcony Solar Guide UK, who both check the ENA register daily:

The pace of growth is striking. On 19 August there were seven compliant kits. By 2 September there were 20. By 4 September there were 41. By 7 September, 47. This is a market forming in real time.

Where to Actually Buy — The Honest Retailer Picture

This is where the story gets interesting — and rather different from what the June government announcements suggested.

Of the seven retailers DESNZ named as working with the government on plug-in solar — Amazon, Asda, B&Q, Currys, Lidl, Screwfix and Wickes — only Amazon had a verified kit listed as of 7 September 2026. And that's a third-party brand sold through Amazon's marketplace, not an Amazon own-range product.

The retailer with the widest choice right now is Argos — which was never on the government's list. Six UKSOL bundles from £599, though delivery isn't until late October.

The full picture of where compliant kits are available today, according to Balcony Solar Guide UK:

Lidl, Aldi, B&Q, Screwfix, Wickes, Toolstation, Currys and Asda had no verified kits listed on 7 September 2026. Solar Energy Concepts puts it plainly: "Argos is the only mainstream retailer ranging listed kits."

The Cheapest Certified Kit: PatioSun Lite at £449

The most affordable compliant plug-in solar kit currently available is the PatioSun Lite at £449 including VAT and delivery, available directly from patiosun.co.uk. This is a single-panel system — around 460W — which makes it the entry point for anyone wanting to try plug-in solar at the lowest possible cost.

For an 800W two-panel system, the Thunder Bolt 920W at £749.99 from Thunder Energy is the current best value certified option that ships immediately, based on the data available. The UKSOL Duo 890W from Argos (£599) is cheaper but doesn't deliver until late October — a meaningful gap if you want to capture the remaining autumn generation window before winter.

The Amazon Trap — Read This Before Buying

This is the most important warning in this article. Amazon is full of plug-in solar kits with UK plugs, positive reviews, and compelling prices. Many of them are not compliant.

As Solar Energy Concepts documents clearly: none of the cheap Amazon look-alike kits were listed as Compliant on the ENA register as of 2 September 2026. Plugging in a non-compliant kit is illegal under SI 2026/848, regardless of whether it has a UK plug and regardless of what the listing says about "UK compatible" or "800W legal".

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

This also applies to EcoFlow products. Searching Argos for plug-in solar returns EcoFlow STREAM products — but each product page states they must be hardwired by a qualified electrician. EcoFlow's entry on the ENA register is listed Non-compliant for the plug-in route. These are excellent products but they require an electrician, not a socket.

The One-Per-Household Limit Is Now Confirmed — Permanently

Earlier in 2026 there was discussion about potentially allowing one device per separately protected circuit, which would have allowed some homes to run two systems. That has not happened.

The G98 August 2026 amendment explicitly states that connecting more than one plug-in solar device "is not allowed." As Solar Energy Concepts confirms, there is no Ofgem consultation on changing this rule. One device per household is the law — not a temporary position pending review.

Realistic Savings — Honest Numbers for Autumn 2026

With electricity prices at 26.11p/kWh (rising to 26.32p on 1 October 2026), and assuming 25–40% self-consumption, Solar Energy Concepts puts realistic annual savings at £43–£84 per year for a typical installation — with payback of 7–14 years at current kit prices.

That's a more conservative figure than the government's frequently cited £100–£250 range. The difference reflects self-consumption rate — if your home is empty during the day, you'll capture less of what the panel generates. If someone is home during daylight hours, savings are at the higher end.

It's also worth noting that buying now — in September — means the remaining generation window before winter is limited. October onwards sees significantly reduced output. The VAT benefit (0% until March 2027) is real, but the prime generation season runs April–September, so a kit bought now will really prove itself next spring rather than this autumn.

Your RCD — The Check That Decides Everything

One practical point that stops many households from self-installing immediately: your consumer unit's RCD type. According to Solar Energy Concepts, a Type AC RCD rules your home out until an electrician replaces it. Only Type A, F or B RCDs are compatible — and the device must also work with power flowing both ways.

Only 25% of UK adults know which type of RCD they have. It's worth checking before you buy a kit. Open your consumer unit (fuse box) and look for the RCD trip switches — the label should say Type A, B or AC. If you're unsure, photograph the inside and ask an electrician or post a photo in an electrical forum for a quick answer.

What's Coming Next

The register is growing daily. Brands and products to watch for in coming weeks:

Before You Buy — Check Your Location First

With 18 kits now available to buy and prices starting at £449, the practical question has shifted from "when can I buy one?" to "will it actually work at my home?"

The register and the law don't change the physics. A south-facing, shade-free outdoor space will generate excellent output from any certified kit. A north-facing balcony with a nearby tree will generate very little — at exactly the same price. And buying in September, knowing that winter reduces output significantly, makes the placement question even more important.

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.

Quick Summary — September 2026

Sources

More from the blog

UK Regulations
Plug-In Solar Is Legal From Tomorrow — And the First Certified Kits Are Already Here
 Buying Guide
How to Buy a Plug-In Solar Panel Safely in the UK — What to Check Before You Spend

Check your location before you buy — free

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