The short answer
Aldi, IKEA and Costco do not sell a plug-in solar kit in the UK. As at 25 September 2026, Aldi had no solar products listed at all, IKEA UK sold only solar lights and Costco only professionally installed systems. Lidl is the one the government has named, and our Lidl guide follows it. That does not mean you have to wait: 84 plug-in kits are verified on the ENA register, and they are on sale from Argos, UKSOL, Homebase, Plug In Solar, City Plumbing, PatioSun, PowerXpress, Screwfix, Modular Solar, Amazon UK, Thunder Energy, Solarfy and Octopus Energy.
Only verified kits can be plugged in
Aldi solar panels
We searched aldi.co.uk on 25 September 2026 for “solar”, “plug-in solar”, “balcony solar”, “solar panel”, “solar charger”, “solar power station” and “portable power station”, and read the Specialbuys page. None returned a solar product. Aldi’s press office had announced nothing about plug-in solar, and no kit from Aldi or its own brands (Ferrex, Workzone, Gardenline, Adventuridge) was on the ENA register. Aldi was not among the retailers the government named in March or June 2026.
The “Aldi £30 solar panel” you may have read about was the ADVENTURIDGE Portable Solar Charger, a £29.99 Specialbuy from 26 April 2026. Aldi described it as a foldable 40W charger with “3 USB ports”, designed for camping and hiking. It charges gadgets; it has no mains plug or inverter, so it cannot power your home or reduce your bill. Its product page has since been taken down.
Aldi does sell balcony kits in Germany, which is where most of the UK confusion comes from. Sites claiming specific German Aldi brands and prices contradict each other, so we are not repeating them.
Lidl solar panels
Lidl is the supermarket most linked with plug-in solar. The government named it in March 2026 (“Retailers like Lidl and Iceland … are working with government”) and again in June, when it listed Amazon, Asda, B&Q, Currys, Lidl, Screwfix and Wickes. Our Lidl plug-in solar guide follows it.
IKEA solar panels
A search of IKEA’s UK site on 25 September 2026 returned solar LED lights and nothing else. IKEA sells plug-in balcony kits in Germany and, since April 2026, Belgium, but not here.
Costco solar panels
Costco UK’s solar systems are Fresh Solar packages listed as “Fully Installed”, with or without a battery. They are conventional rooftop installations, a different product from a kit you plug into a socket. For the difference, see plug-in vs rooftop solar.
Where the verified kits are
Verified kits are sold by high-street and trade retailers, on Amazon and direct from makers: Argos, UKSOL, Homebase, Plug In Solar, City Plumbing, PatioSun, PowerXpress, Screwfix, Modular Solar, Amazon UK, Thunder Energy, Solarfy and Octopus Energy. Our best plug-in solar kits page compares them, and the tracker lists every verified model with its retailer and the date we checked the price.
Once it is plugged in, notify your network operator under G98. That applies wherever you bought it.
Questions
Does Aldi sell plug-in solar panels in the UK?
No. On 25 September 2026 aldi.co.uk returned no solar products for "solar", "plug-in solar", "balcony solar" or "solar panel", Aldi's press office had announced nothing, and no Aldi or Aldi own-brand kit was on the ENA register. Aldi's search only shows current and upcoming stock, so a future Specialbuy can't be ruled out.
What was Aldi's £30 solar panel?
The ADVENTURIDGE Portable Solar Charger, a £29.99 Specialbuy from 26 April 2026: a 40W folding panel with USB ports for charging phones and gadgets outdoors. It has no mains plug or inverter, so it cannot feed your home's electricity or cut your bill. Aldi's product page for it has since been removed.
Does Lidl sell plug-in solar panels in the UK?
Lidl was named by the government in both March and June 2026 as working on plug-in solar for the UK. Our Lidl guide tracks what it has said and whether a UK kit has appeared.
Does IKEA sell plug-in solar in the UK?
No. A search of IKEA's UK site on 25 September 2026 showed only solar LED lights. IKEA's plug-in balcony kits are sold in Germany and Belgium.
Does Costco sell plug-in solar panels?
No. Costco UK sells Fresh Solar systems that are professionally installed, plus solar-powered gadgets. There is no plug-in or balcony kit.
Where can I buy a verified plug-in solar kit?
As at our last retailer check, verified kits were on sale from Argos, UKSOL, Homebase, Plug In Solar, City Plumbing, PatioSun, PowerXpress, Screwfix, Modular Solar, Amazon UK, Thunder Energy, Solarfy and Octopus Energy. Check the kit's register reference on our tracker before buying.