Government to Make “Plug-In Solar” Available Within Months as Clean Power Drive Accelerates

The UK Government has announced that low-cost “plug-in” solar panels will be available in shops within months, allowing households to generate their own electricity without the need for professional installation. The move forms part of a wider push to strengthen the UK’s energy security and reduce reliance on volatile fossil fuel markets amid ongoing geopolitical instability.

Retailers including Lidl and Amazon, alongside manufacturers such as EcoFlow, are working with government to bring the technology to the UK market. The systems, already widely used across Europe, allow households to plug solar panels directly into a standard mains socket, reducing the amount of electricity drawn from the grid and cutting energy bills.

Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary, Ed Miliband said the policy was driven by both energy security and the cost of living crisis.

“The Government is determined to fight people’s corner in this crisis, which is why we have acted to prevent unfair practices like price gouging and provided immediate help for the most vulnerable facing spiralling heating oil prices.

The Iran War has once again shown our drive for clean power is essential for our energy security so we can escape the grip of fossil fuel markets we don’t control.

Whether through solar panels fitted as standard on new homes or making it possible for people to purchase plug-in solar in shops, we are determined to roll out clean power so we can give our country energy sovereignty.”

Housing, Communities, and Local Government Secretary, Steve Reed said the reforms would also ensure new homes are cheaper to run.

“Building 1.5 million new homes also means building high-quality homes that are cheaper to run and warmer to live in.

“As we make the switch to clean, homegrown energy, today’s standard is what the future of housing can and should look like. Not only will these changes protect hardworking families from shocks abroad but will also slash hundreds of pounds off their energy bills every year.”

Future Homes Standard and Discounted Wind Power

Alongside plug-in solar, the Government confirmed that the Future Homes Standard will require most new homes in England to be built with solar panels and low-carbon heating systems as standard. These homes could save families up to £830 per year on energy bills and produce at least 75% fewer carbon emissions compared to homes built to 2013 standards.

The Government is also launching a new scheme to offer discounted electricity on windy days in areas where wind farms are currently paid to switch off due to grid constraints. Instead of wasting excess wind energy, households and businesses – particularly in Scotland and the East of England – will be offered cheaper electricity during periods of high wind generation.

Industry and Energy Sector Reaction

The announcement was widely welcomed across the energy sector, with retailers, suppliers, investors and industry bodies backing the reforms.

Georgina Hall, Corporate Affairs Director at Lidl GB, said:

“At Lidl GB, we are committed to making sustainable living affordable for everyone and we welcome the Government’s move to modernise regulations in the UK. Updating the regulatory landscape for this ‘plug-and-play’ technology is a positive step towards empowering British households to manage their energy costs and support the nation’s net-zero ambitions.”

Greg Jackson, Founder and CEO of Octopus Energy, said:

“People want to be free of these fossil fuel crises – since the conflict in the Middle East began, interest in solar has shot up 50%, heat pump and electric cars are also seeing surges.

“Every solar panel, heat pump and battery cuts bills and boosts Britain’s energy independence. And the Government’s latest steps can help cut the costs of electrification.

“With solar, many homes can produce and use their own electricity, and cut their bills further by selling the excess back to us. With heat pumps and electric cars, their own electricity can slash heating and driving bills – stuff you simply can’t do with gas and petrol.

“And it’s great that the Government want to give homes and businesses cheap electricity on windy days instead of paying wind farms to switch off. Once this is permanent, companies and families will be able to invest confidently in electric vehicles, batteries and heat pumps – knowing they’ll be cheap to run.”

Chris Norbury, Chief Executive of E.ON UK, said:

“Cutting red tape on plug-in solar is an encouraging move and we will help ensure it works alongside, or as part of, whole-home solutions that genuinely empower people to take control of their energy use and cut bills.
At E.ON Next, we’re already seeing how powerful that shift can be. Whether it’s giving customers more control through innovative time of use tariffs or helping people get income from generating and storing energy at home via steerable assets, the direction is clear: simplicity, transparency and providing real financial rewards for doing the right thing.

“Pair that with future homes built to a genuinely modern standard that prioritise affordable living and you start to build a system that works with and for people, not around them. The opportunity now is scale and simplicity. If we get that right, this isn’t just policy, it’s progress. It’s how we make new energy work – for everyone.”

Chris O’Shea, CEO of Centrica, added:

“As the UK’s biggest installer of low-carbon heating, we welcome today’s announcements, including the Future Homes Standard. It’s a chance to ensure new homes come ready for the full benefits of modern energy systems – where low-carbon heating, solar and smart technology are designed to work together from the start and reduce energy consumption. Our army of engineers stand ready to continue to keep Britain’s homes warm.”

Josh Buckland, Strategy & Policy Director at EDF, said:

“Electrification is fundamental to future proofing the country with homegrown electricity putting Britain back in charge of its destiny and helping keeping bills low for all in the long term. This is why we welcome the Government’s Future Homes Standard and the decision that all new homes will have clean heating as standard. We are also pleased to see the focus on unlocking further investment in solar, offering customers a practical way to reduce both their bills and their impact on the environment.”

Dhara Vyas, Chief Executive of Energy UK, said:

“The Future Homes Standard is a landmark moment for clean energy in Britain. New homes built under this standard will benefit from clean heating solutions and solar, protecting households from volatile gas prices and putting energy security within the home itself.

“Combined with higher fabric efficiency standards, these homes will be warmer and cheaper to run – offering real and tangible change in people’s homes.

“Critically, plans for rooftop solar with the possibility for households to export excess energy back to the grid mark a genuine shift in how people can engage with the energy transition, easily allowing them to save money from an increasingly flexible energy system.

“The Future Homes Standard gives businesses the long-term certainty they need to invest in manufacturing, scale up supply chains, and build the skilled workforce that will make the targets set in the Warm Homes Plan a reality.”

Chris Hewett, Chief Executive of Solar Energy UK, said:

“Expanding solar energy and battery storage is a rapid and inexpensive solution to the looming energy crisis – for cutting bills, for the economy and for our nation’s energy security. From the largest installations to the smallest domestic systems, every battery and panel counts towards weaning us off reliance on imported and polluting fossil fuels. That’s why ensuring that new homes and other buildings are built with solar and boosting retrofits is so vital, and so welcome.”

Charlotte Lee, Chief Executive of HPA UK, said:

“We are delighted to get confirmation that following a transition period, all new homes and buildings will benefit from low carbon heating such as heat pumps and heat networks. Coupled with solar PV, heat pumps and connections to heat networks provide a future proofed solution which will strengthen the UK’s energy security.”

Dave Sowden, Chief Executive of the Sustainable Energy Association, said:

“We are delighted to see the publication of the Future Homes and Buildings Standard, which will provide much needed clarity for the low carbon heating and energy efficiency sectors. Today’s news will mean that the UK’s future building stock will provide residents with warm, comfortable, efficient, and cost-effective homes for decades to come.

“Additionally, it is encouraging to see the Government recognise exciting low carbon innovations such as plug-in solar. The technology will be welcomed by consumers and businesses as we navigate the uncertain long-term impact on fuel bills due to a range of geopolitical factors.”

Madeleine Gabriel, Director of Sustainable Future at Nesta, said:

“Many households are understandably concerned about paying for rising energy costs in the future because of the volatility of fossil fuel prices. With the Government now making it even easier to switch to electricity to heat and power your home, there has never been a better time for people to consider installing solar panels, storage batteries and heat pumps.”

Mike Childs, Head of Policy at Friends of the Earth, said:

“Making it easier to install plug-in solar panels and ensuring new homes come with heat pumps and solar power is a welcome step that will help protect families from future price shocks.
But we must go further to end our reliance on fossil fuels, strengthen energy security and cut the carbon pollution driving the climate crisis.”

Rachel Solomon Williams, Executive Director of the Aldersgate Group, said:

“Measures that require homes and commercial buildings to include low-carbon heating and energy efficiency would play an important role in driving the transition. To ensure that these measures also contribute to reduced bills for households and businesses, it will be vital to continue work on addressing the rising cost of electricity.”

Garry Felgate, CEO of The MCS Foundation, said:

“The confirmation that the majority of all new homes in England will have solar panels and low carbon heating systems such as heat pumps is very good news – for energy security, for the UK’s progress toward a carbon-free future, and for the countless households that will benefit as a result.”

Janine Michael, Chief Executive at the Centre for Sustainable Energy, said:

“The Future Homes Standard is a significant step forward in futureproofing our homes and our energy system. Building solar and low carbon heating into new builds as standard will create jobs, strengthen energy security and cut household bills, accelerating the green transition.”

Elli Moody, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said:

“Mandating solar panels on new homes and making solar more accessible to renters as well as homeowners will deliver meaningful climate action without placing further pressure on iconic landscapes and productive farmland.”

Ed Lockhart, Chief Executive of the Future Homes Hub, said:

“The publication of the Future Homes Standard isn’t just about a change in regulation – it’s a promise to consumers that new homes will be more comfortable, more efficient, and more secure against the volatility of unstable fossil fuel markets.”

Dr Tom Dollard, Chair of the Good Homes Alliance, said:

“The Good Homes Alliance welcomes the launch of the Future Homes and Building Standard as a positive step towards net zero and low energy homes.”

Lorna Wallace-Smith, Head of UK Communications for EcoFlow, said:

“Allowing plug-and-play solar is a very positive step for expanding access to renewable energy in the UK. Seeing these systems available in stores by summer would be a major win for households.”

James Alexander, CEO of the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association, said:

“Well-implemented guidelines that raise the overall quality and sustainability of new properties can attract billions in private investment, support thousands of skilled jobs and contribute to wider economic growth.”

Lawrence Slade, Chief Executive of the Energy Networks Association, said:

“Today is a significant step in the UK’s clean energy transition and in supporting the connection of additional home-grown solar power.”

Charlie Mercer, Policy Director at Startup Coalition, said:

“Today marks another excellent step forward in placing innovation and cutting-edge technologies at the heart of the UK’s energy security agenda.”

Mohamed Gaafar, Co-Founder and CEO of Gryd Energy, said:

“This is a landmark moment that will redefine the role of homes in the UK’s energy system.”

Simon McWhirter, CEO of the UK Green Building Council, said:

“We welcome the Government’s decision to adopt the more ambitious Future Homes Standard, putting new homes firmly on a path away from fossil fuels.”

A Structural Shift in the UK Energy System

Taken together, the introduction of plug-in solar, the Future Homes Standard, and discounted wind power represent a structural shift in how energy is generated, used and paid for in the UK. The direction of travel is clear: more decentralised energy, more electrification, and more control for households over their own energy costs.

If implemented at scale, these reforms could fundamentally reshape the UK’s energy system – turning homes from passive energy consumers into active energy producers, while strengthening national energy security and reducing exposure to global fossil fuel markets.

Find out more

To find out more about Curia’s Clean Energy and Environment Research Group, contact Partnerships Director, Ben McDermott at ben.mcdermott@chamberuk.com.