Retail giants join UK government drive to boost ‘plug-in’ balcony solar panels

Lidl, Asda, Amazon and B&Q among chains in talks to sell devices that feed into household sockets and can cut electricity bills by 30%

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Bosses of some of Britain’s biggest retailers are discussing plans with the government to start selling plug-in solar panels as part of a drive to encourage more UK homes to generate their own electricity.

Executives from brands including Currys, B&Q, Amazon and Lidl met Martin McCluskey, the minister for energy consumers, on Tuesday to discuss guidelines for selling “balcony solar panels” to the British public.