The Plug-in Solar Report: 1 November 2026

No new ENA approvals this week

After several weeks of steady additions, the number of compliant plug-in solar configurations has remained unchanged at 127.

This is the first weekly reporting period since the new rules came into force on 27 August in which we haven't recorded any new approvals.

Our latest directory figures show:

• 127 ENA-approved plug-in solar configurations.
• 54 kits with verified UK retail listings, up from 51 last week.

While approvals have paused this week, new products are still reaching the market. There are plenty of configurations already on the ENA register that have yet to appear on retailers' websites.

Worldwide Solar adds two competitively priced mounted kits

Two of this week's new retail listings come from Worldwide Solar:

• Worldwide Solar 920W Plug & Play Solar Kit with ZAM steel mounts: £509 including delivery.
• Worldwide Solar 930W Plug & Play Solar Kit with ZAM steel mounts: £511 including delivery.

Both kits include two JA Solar panels, a Hoymiles dual-MPPT microinverter and fixed 20° mounting frames. Both are in stock and available to order. With just £2 separating them, we'd favour the 930W version for its slightly higher panel capacity.

At £509 and £511 respectively, these are now the two cheapest complete, mounted dual-MPPT plug-in solar kits we've identified as available to order. City Plumbing's HiFlow PRO kits have lower advertised prices, starting at £480, but remain unavailable to order through its website. The dual-MPPT microinverters included with Worldwide Solar's kits manage each panel independently, which can help improve generation where panels face different directions or experience different levels of sunlight or shading.

For those happy to source suitable mounting equipment separately, Worldwide Solar also offers mount-free versions of these kits, starting at £434. These include the same panels and microinverter, but without the mounting frames.

In our interview with Worldwide Solar founder René Tetzner this week, he explained that his approach is to keep profit margins relatively small to make plug-in solar more affordable. The pricing of these latest kits appears consistent with that aim and makes them competitive additions to the UK market.

Smith Bros. SolarGo-One 435 reaches retail

Approved by the ENA on 6 October, the Smith Bros. SolarGo-One 435 Plug In Solar Kit has now reached retail. The single-panel 435W kit, complete with ground mounting, is available from Electricals Online for £474. However, despite the retailer advertising free delivery on orders over £75, we found that an additional £144 delivery charge gets added at checkout, bringing the total to £618.

It's unclear whether this is a delivery-setting error or an intentional charge for this particular product. We hope it's something that can be corrected, as it's difficult to recommend the kit at £618 delivered when several other compliant single-panel kits are available for considerably less.

For now, our directory reflects the full £618 delivered price rather than the advertised £474.

Price movements this week

Plug-in solar prices aren't moving uniformly downwards. While some suppliers are reducing their prices, others are increasing them or making frequent adjustments.

Among the changes recorded in our directory this week:

• PowerXpress Plug-in Solar 920W (90012): Now £599 delivered, down from £605.99 last week. The previous £6.99 delivery charge has been removed.
• Voltacon 930W Hoymiles HF-800-WB mount-free kit: Now £420 delivered, up from £399 in last week's report.

Voltacon's pricing has been particularly unpredictable this week. We've seen the kit move from £399 to £430, back down to £399, and now up again to £420. That's a £31 difference between the highest and lowest prices recorded in just a few days.

If you're considering the Voltacon mount-free kit, it may be worth keeping an eye on the listing rather than rushing to purchase. Given the recent fluctuations, the price could drop back to £399 again, although there's no guarantee.

Advertising guidance puts savings claims and headline prices under scrutiny

Recent guidance from the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP), published on the ASA website, explains how existing UK advertising rules apply to plug-in solar products.

The guidance highlights several areas suppliers and retailers need to consider:

• Headline prices: Unavoidable charges should be made clear alongside advertised prices.
• Electricity savings: Claims about potential savings must be supported by evidence.
• Installation: Advertising should explain relevant conditions and limitations rather than implying that every installation is straightforward.
• Environmental claims: Benefits should not be overstated or presented without appropriate evidence.

This is general advertising guidance, rather than a ruling against any particular plug-in solar supplier. For consumers, it's a useful reminder to look beyond headline prices and savings claims, and check exactly what's included in a kit and what conditions apply.

We would have liked to see compliance addressed more directly, too. In our view, retailers and suppliers advertising plug-in solar kits should be required to display the relevant ENA approval number on their product listings. This would give consumers a straightforward way to check whether the complete kit being advertised matches an approved configuration on the ENA Type Test Register.

Many suppliers already provide this information, but a significant number still don't. Making the approval reference a standard part of plug-in solar advertising would be a welcome improvement in transparency.

Zendure pre-orders due to open tomorrow

The big development we're watching for next week is Zendure's planned UK launch. The company is due to open pre-orders for its SolarFlow 800 plug-in solar kit on 2 November, as reported by The Independent on 19 October. We're currently tracking six ENA-approved Zendure configurations, covering ground, wall and balcony mounting options, with and without extension cables.

As of today, there's no sign of the new kits on Zendure's UK website, although we've spotted a provisional Amazon UK listing, suggesting that the kits may also be sold through Amazon alongside Zendure's own online store.

We don't yet know which of Zendure's six ENA approved configurations will be available or how much they'll cost. With competing complete kits already available around the £500 mark, Zendure's pricing and the equipment included will determine how competitive its offering is. We'll be watching closely tomorrow.