Some of Britain’s biggest retailers are reportedly in talks with the government over plans to sell plug-in solar panels to UK households.

Executives from Currys, B&Q and Amazon met energy consumers minister Martin McCluskey on Tuesday to discuss guidance for selling so-called ‘balcony solar panels’ to the public.

Asda, Screwfix and Wickes also attended the meeting, which focused on how renters, flat owners and households without rooftop access could benefit from home solar technology.

The government wants the devices to be available in stores in the coming months as part of its wider push to boost household energy generation and reduce reliance on fossil fuel markets.

Plug-in solar panels can be placed on a balcony, terrace, shed roof or other outdoor space and connected to a home through a standard three-pin plug.

The electricity generated flows directly into the household circuit, meaning appliances use the solar power first before drawing electricity from the grid.

The systems usually have a capacity of around 800 watts, making them far smaller than a typical rooftop solar system. However, government research suggests they could still save households between £70 and £110 a year on energy bills.

Plug-in systems are expected to cost from about £400, meaning the initial outlay could be recovered in around four to seven years.

The technology is already popular in parts of Europe, including Germany and Spain. Around 1.5m balconies in Germany are understood to have DIY solar panels, known locally as Balkonkraftwerk.

McCluskey said plug-in panels could be “transformative” for renters and lower-income households.

“This easy-to-install tech can cut people’s bills and help make the UK less reliant on global fossil fuel markets,” he said.

The retail push comes amid growing consumer interest in home energy technology, including rooftop solar, heat pumps, EV chargers and battery storage.

The UK recorded 269,000 solar installations last year, more than a third higher than the previous year and equivalent to a new rooftop solar installation every two minutes.

B&Q chief executive Graham Bell said the DIY retailer was “working closely with government and suppliers to understand and help shape the guidance, ensuring any products we offer are safe, compliant and straightforward to install”.

He added that plug-in solar would be made available to customers “as soon as possible”.

The initiative forms part of the government’s wider solar strategy, which aims to increase UK solar capacity from around 18GW today to between 45GW and 47GW by the end of the decade.

Ministers are also looking to expand solar generation across warehouse roofs, factory roofs and large outdoor car park canopies.

The government has said using just 20 per cent of the UK’s largest warehouses for solar panels could deliver up to 15GW of capacity, around half the planned growth needed by 2030.

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