24th March 2026
There is some early information on pricing, but it depends heavily on the type of solar panel being sold in supermarkets.
New "plug-in" solar panels (the supermarket ones)
These are small, portable panels designed for balconies, gardens, or walls
They plug straight into a normal socket (no installation needed)
Expected price:
Around £500 for a basic kit
That's the key figure being reported so far. These are much cheaper because:
they're smaller (not full roof systems)
no installer or scaffolding is required
aimed at renters or flats, not whole-house power
Traditional rooftop solar systems (for comparison)
If you're thinking about "normal" solar panels:
Typical full-home system: £6,500 - £9,000 installed
Some estimates: £5,500 - £8,000+ for ~4kW systems
With battery: can reach £8,000 - £14,000+
These generate far more electricity but require professional installation.
Big difference in what you get
£500 supermarket panels → small-scale, partial savings (e.g. powering a room or reducing bills slightly)
£6k-£10k systems → can power a large part of a home
The government's supermarket plan is about cheap, accessible entry-level solar
Early reports suggest ~£500 starting price
But they are not a replacement for full rooftop systems.
Realistic numbers on what a £500 supermarket solar kit could save you in the UK
Typical "plug-in" panel output
These small systems are usually:
300W - 800W capacity
In the UK climate, they generate roughly:
250 – 700 kWh per year
(For context: a full home uses 2,700–3,500 kWh/year)
Electricity savings (UK prices)
Electricity in the UK is roughly:
25–30p per kWh
So your yearly savings would be:
Low estimate (small setup)
250 kWh × £0.25 ≈ £60/year
Higher estimate (better setup)
700 kWh × £0.30 ≈ £210/year
Payback time
If the system costs £500:
Worst case: 8 years
Best case: 2.5–4 years
Realistically: 4–6 years for most people
What can it actually power?
A plug-in system could cover:
Fridge + WiFi + lights during the day
Or a chunk of your "background" electricity use
But:
Not enough for full home
Won't run high-power things (oven, heating, EV charging)
Important catch (UK-specific)
Savings depend heavily on:
Sunlight (south-facing = best)
Using power during the day (since many systems don’t store energy)
Whether UK rules fully allow plug-in export (still evolving)
Simple takeaway
Expect about £100–£150/year savings for most setups
It’s a slow but solid return, plus greener energy
Best suited if you:
are home during the day
have a sunny balcony/garden