From 27 August Plugin solar is legal, cheap and available from retailers.

The legal changes follow rigorous, independent safety testing, covering all key electrical elements, which shows that compliant panels are safe and compatible with UK wiring. The UK safety specification is more stringent than that of Germany, where the technology is already widely used and around half a million new devices were plugged in last year.

Plug-in solar kits can produce up to 800W of power, but not all landlords are allowing tenants to install the units without additional permissions, and planning permission or listed building consent may also be required.

Major retailers, such as Currys, B&Q, Screwfix and Amazon have worked on the rollout of plug-in solar

David Wood, CEO, Wickes said: “With the UK having some of the oldest and least energy efficient housing stock in Europe, making energy-saving technologies easier to access will be an important part of helping people reduce their energy bills and supporting the transition to a lower-carbon future.”

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