PLUG-IN solar panels which can knock up to £110 a year from energy bills are in high street shops for the first time from today.
Households will be able to buy the gadgets after the Government changed the rules which previously banned them.
Plug-in solar panels can knock up to £110 a year from energy bills Credit: Getty
The gadgets are in high street shops for the first time from today Credit: Alamy
The panels, which can be hung on balconies or fences and plugged directly into sockets, can slash energy bills by reducing the amount of electricity you draw from the grid.
They are mainly aimed at helping renters and leaseholders who live in flats, and homes which cannot install rooftop solar panels.
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Argos will be the first to start selling the devices from today, and other major retailers including Amazon, Currys, B&Q, Screwfix and Wickes are expected to follow.
Prices are not yet confirmed, but ministers expect them to go down to around £400-£600 as the units become more widespread.
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Households can recoup this cost over a few years, with savings of up to £110 annually on bills, the Department for Energy and Net Zero said.
Each kit produces up to 800W of power, which is enough to provide about 20 per cent of an average home’s electricity use when the sun is shining, according to officials.
It comes after it was announced on Wednesday that energy bills are set to rise to a three-year high from October under regulator Ofgem’s price cap.
Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh said: “Plug-in solar is a simple, affordable way for households to take control of their energy bills. We’re giving more families the ability to power their homes with clean home-grown energy.”
Saver tax hit
MILLIONS more savers will have to pay tax on their nest eggs from next year, savings app Spring has warned.
The number facing a savings interest bill is set to hit 4.51million, up from 1.22million in 2022/23.
Basic rate taxpayers can earn up to £1,000 interest outside an ISA tax-free — equivalent to a £20,000 nest egg at 5%.
But inflation, higher interest rates and frozen tax thresholds will push millions past that.
Gatwick fliers nosedive
GATWICK Airport’s profits fell 18 per cent in this year’s first six months after passenger numbers fell a “significant” 4.7 per cent on 2025’s first half to 19.1million.
Bosses blamed the Middle East conflict and said long-haul travel was hardest hit, with traveller numbers down 9.2 per cent compared to 3.9 per cent for short-haul.
Pre-tax profits fell from £166.2million to £136.5million in the period.
The group said passengers were booking late because of the conflict and were concerned over its effect on fuel supply, although there had been no shortages.
Healthy firm
A HEALTH brand backed by Coleen Rooney has increased its expected earnings for this year after seeing a surge in sales.
Applied Nutrition said it now expects annual underlying earnings of £43.3million for the year to July 31.
That is a 40 per cent jump from last year, and an increase on its previous estimate of £42million.
It comes after sales soared to £160million, up from £107million the previous year.
