When the government announced the legalisation of plug-in solar in March 2026, it named three retailers as partners in the rollout: Lidl, Amazon and Iceland. EcoFlow was confirmed as the technology partner. Since then, the big question has been when exactly these kits will land on shelves and what they will cost.
What has actually been confirmed
The government’s announcement said plug-in solar would be available in shops “within months.” Lidl welcomed the regulatory change and said it was committed to making sustainable living affordable, but has not confirmed a specific launch date or price. Amazon is confirmed as a partner and EcoFlow’s STREAM kit is already available through Amazon UK at around £499. Iceland has been mentioned in connection with the rollout but has made no public statement.
The sticking point is certification. The BSI product standard that will allow kits to be marketed as fully certified for plug-in use in UK homes is expected around July 2026. Until that is published, retailers cannot officially sell a complete kit as ready to plug straight into a standard socket.
What Lidl’s kits are likely to look like
Lidl has been selling balcony solar kits in Germany since 2022, typically at prices between 199 and 299 euros for a two-panel 800W package. The UK versions are widely expected to be similar in specification: two 400W panels, a microinverter, a mounting kit and a cable. Based on German pricing and the £400 figure cited by the government, expect UK kits to land somewhere between £350 and £500.
EcoFlow is the most likely technology partner for a Lidl-branded kit. Their STREAM system is designed specifically for balcony and garden installations and is already the best-known plug-in solar product in the UK market.
Should you wait for Lidl or buy now?
If Lidl undercuts the current market by £100, and you wait six months to buy, you need to weigh that saving against six months of foregone electricity generation. A well-positioned 800W system can save £15 to £20 a month in summer. The maths rarely favours waiting unless the price difference is substantial.
If you want to buy before the Lidl launch, the EcoFlow STREAM is the closest equivalent to what Lidl will likely stock, and it is available now. Just make sure you follow the current compliant installation route while the BSI standard is still pending.
What to check on any kit you buy
Whether you buy from Lidl, Amazon or a specialist supplier, the key things to verify are: a CE or UKCA mark on the microinverter, G98 compliance for grid connection, and an 800W or lower output rating. Once the BSI standard is published, look for kits explicitly certified to that standard for the simplest, fully legal self-install route.