The Gadget Agenda: why plug-in solar prices might be about to take a major tumble
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Plug-in solar has finally reached British retailers, but high launch prices, shortening days and fresh competition may make autumn a better time to watch than buy
If you pop down to your local Argos store right now, you should be able to walk away with a big box containing everything you need to harvest free electricity from the sun. And the best bit is, you can just plug your new system straight into the wall.
No electrician visits, no arguments with your energy supplier, just pop a solar panel on your lawn, plug the little black box it comes with into your nearest three-pin socket, and you could save around £100 per year on your electricity bills.
Sounds great, doesn't it? There are a few problems, though. The first one is that it's now September, and daylight is going to be in short supply in the coming months, let alone sunshine.
The other problem, and this is going to be an even bigger stumbling block, is the cost. Your trip to Argos to buy a plug-in solar kit could cost at least £599. There are even systems in their catalogue costing double that.
And it's not as if these are super-powerful huge earners that will slash your bills right down, either. The UK is limited to 800 watts of solar input, and some of these Argos systems won't get close to that.
More reasons to hold off heading to Argos right now
Thankfully, it's not all doom and gloom. We've found much better value from good old Amazon, which has a Modular Solar kit for £465. It's currently the best-value way to buy in to this exciting new tech.
There's more hope on the horizon, too. Primarily in the fact that, with the winter months looming large, hardly anyone's going to want to shell out hundreds of pounds on a solar system they'll barely see any immediate return from.
This will encourage retailers to offer discounts, to avoid stock gathering dust, and there might be some bargains to enjoy in the run-up to Christmas. I know I'll be watching Black Friday very closely.
Brace yourself: the energy companies are getting in on the act
There is another bright light illuminating the horizon, because energy firm Octopus is currently busy getting approval for a plug-in solar kit, which they're aiming to price at £450. You can pre-order it now, and it should be landing on your front lawn by the end of September.
This will be a 460 watt system, with a mounting kit, and it sounds like you'll be able to track its performance through the excellent Octopus app.
For Octopus customers, this sounds like a dream come true, because you'll be signed up to an energy company that's actively helping you watch how much you save from sunshine. A one-stop shop.
The other exciting prospect from Octopus is they're hinting at offering a feed in rate, which means that any excess solar your house isn't using will be worth money and, although it's not likely to be much, it'll chip even more off your monthly bill. Fuse has also made noises about feeding in, too, so expect some announcements from them soon.
Even more to look forward to
All this is happening before the supermarkets stick their oar in. Lidl, among a few others, has made noises in the past about offering a cut-price plug-in solar kit, and when that fabled middle aisle sees its first stock, you know it'll be cheap. And that will send a shockwave around the retail landscape, encouraging some competition and driving prices down in general.
So while the autumn weather might often be gloomy, the outlook for plug-in solar certainly is far from it.
If you're one of the early adopters that has already taken the plunge and paid a premium for the first kit to hit the market, don't be despondent. The beauty of solar systems is that they're modular and expandable. You've got some exciting times ahead.
And if you're hesitating over your investment and waiting for the right time, I really don't think it'll be long before that time arrives.
Sure, it might be the depths of winter before it's worth taking the plunge, but the great thing about winter is everything is getting better.
Day lengths are increasing, spring is on the way, and you'll have an entire summer to reap the rewards.
Let's just hope summer 2027 is as sunny as summer 2026 was. It would be a cruel irony if we had a cloudy washout in the year everyone gets to grips with what I believe is one of the most exciting tech developments the UK has seen in a generation.
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