Plug-In Solar at Argos and Screwfix: What to Check First

Plug-in solar at Argos and Screwfix is now a real option for UK households: both retailers started selling kits after plug-in solar became legal in Great Britain on 27 August 2026. According to The Eco Experts' 21 September report, prices run from £599 to £999. Here is what is on the shelf, what the price per watt really looks like, and the checks worth doing before you click buy.

What Argos and Screwfix are selling

Argos stocks the UKSol Pro range. The Eco Experts lists six kits: a 515W Pro Compact at £599, a 460W Pro Compact on a ground mount at £849, an 890W Pro Duo at £849 (hybrid mount) or £999 (ground mount), a 1,030W Pro Plus at £899 and a 1,260W Pro Max at £989. Screwfix sells the Powerxpress 800W bifacial kit at £669, which its product page describes as two 460W panels, an 800W micro-inverter, an adjustable mounting bracket and a 5m cable.

The same report says B&Q, Currys and Wickes plan to follow. The government's launch announcement goes further and names Amazon, Argos, Currys, B&Q, Screwfix, Wickes and British Gas as stockists, so check each retailer's own listing rather than assuming a particular kit is in stock.

Price per watt: bigger kits are not always cheaper

Dividing price by panel wattage (our arithmetic from the listed prices) shows the spread. The Argos 515W kit works out at roughly £1.16 per watt of panel, the 890W Pro Duo on a hybrid mount at about £0.95, and the 1,260W Pro Max at about £0.78. The Screwfix kit comes in at about £0.73 per watt on its two 460W panels.

Bigger panel capacity does not mean more output, though. GOV.UK says each kit produces up to 800W, and the legal category is capped at 800W AC. A 1,260W array can generate more in good light, but the inverter limits what reaches your sockets. Extra panel capacity mainly helps in dull weather or on a poorly angled wall.

Check the kit is on the ENA register

The government points buyers to the Energy Networks Association (ENA) for a list of accredited devices and manufacturers. As of 3 October 2026, a tracker of that register showed 130 devices listed, 109 of them compliant. It lists seven compliant UKSOL kits and one compliant Powerxpress device, described as a 920W two-panel kit with a mounting kit.

That last detail matters. The Screwfix product page does not mention DESNZ or ENA compliance, and it advertises an 800W kit, not 920W. Before buying, search the ENA register for the exact manufacturer and model on the box and, if in doubt, ask the retailer to confirm the listing. A non-compliant entry usually means the evidence has not been accepted yet, not that the kit is unsafe, but you do not want to find that out after registering.

The paperwork the shelf price leaves out

• Registration. The Screwfix listing says registration is required. Our guide to registering plug-in solar walks through it.
• Permission. GOV.UK tells buyers to check whether they need landlord consent, freeholder permission, planning permission or listed building consent.
• Insurance. Screwfix warns that cover varies by provider and policy. See whether home insurance covers plug-in solar.
• Warranty. The Screwfix page lists a 1-year manufacturer guarantee. Compare that with the warranty on any other kit.

How much will you save?

GOV.UK puts the typical saving at up to £110 a year per household, with a kit covering roughly 20% of average home electricity use. Octopus, which sells its own £450 and £650 kits, claims about £150 a year when exports are paid on its tariff; see our Octopus sell-out report and Octopus plug-in solar review. Even at the government figure, a £599 to £669 kit takes many years to repay, so shop on price per watt and certification rather than on headline savings.

Retailer kit or energy-supplier kit?

A retailer kit gives you next-day-style convenience and a returns route, with no tie to a tariff. The trade-off is that you handle registration and any export arrangement yourself. If you are new to the category, start with our plug-in balcony solar guide to see whether your wall, balcony or garden gets enough sun to justify the spend.