Can't install plug-in solar panels? No problem — I've hand-picked 12 solar-powered gadgets to brighten your home and save you money anyway

Plug-in solar panels became legal in the UK today , providing a quick and easy way to cut your electricity bill without any professional installation.

<![CDATA[ <article> <p>Plug-in solar panels <a href="https://www.techradar.com/home/energy-saving/plug-in-solar-just-became-legal-in-the-uk-here-are-5-things-you-need-to-know-from-prices-to-potential-savings">became legal in the UK today</a>, providing a quick and easy way to cut your electricity bill without any professional installation. Plug-in solar isn't right for every home (see my list of <a href="https://www.techradar.com/home/3-places-you-cant-install-plug-in-solar-panels-the-new-planning-rules-that-could-ruin-your-grand-designs-for-your-balcony">three places you can't install plug-in solar panels</a> for details). Don't despair, though — you can still trim your bills by opting for clever <strong>solar-powered home tech</strong>, and as TechRadar's Homes Editor, I've put together a list of 12 top options to brighten your life.</p><p>Solar-powered lights are one of the most obvious options, and contain batteries that charge during the day then release the stored energy at night, when you need it. Smart home brands Nanoleaf and Govee both have some great <strong>solar smart lights</strong>, and if you're looking for something cheaper, IKEA sells excellent <strong>solar-powered string lights</strong> to add some whimsy to your garden.</p><p>You can also opt for <strong>solar video doorbells</strong>, <strong>security cameras,</strong> and <strong>motion-triggered floodlights</strong> to protect your home — without the need to clamber up ladders every month to replace or charge batteries. That's a bright idea for anyone. Read on for my full list of recommendations, and if you have any more solar-powered suggestions, feel free to share them in the comments.</p><h3 class="article-body__section" id="section-here-comes-the-sun"><span>Here comes the sun</span></h3> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="330df4ba-a202-11f1-904a-71139263ae16"> <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/ring-solar-charger-for-battery-video-doorbell/dp/B0CLMJ6HJP/ref=sr_1_2" data-model-name="Ring Solar Charger for Battery Video Doorbell" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:133.37%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nNuERHgNskfjoLxzu6CJ9c.jpg" alt="Ring solar doorbell panel"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Ring</div> <div class="featured__title">Ring Solar Charger for Battery Video Doorbell</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="330df546-a202-11f1-ab6b-b11b9a0c3c20"> <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nanoleaf-Controller-Addressable-Multicolour-Waterproof/dp/B0GLSK2MLF/ref=sr_1_4" data-model-name="Solar Garden Lights (2 Pack)" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:133.37%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2QVgkaUnLzdLH6ar2RtJ9g.jpg" alt="Nanoleaf solar garden lights"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Nanoleaf</div> <div class="featured__title">Solar Garden Lights (2 Pack)</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="330df62c-a202-11f1-a5ac-9925c17276a2"> <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Govee-Outdoor-String-Lights-Dimmable/dp/B0GRHK2XJN/ref=sr_1_1_sspa" data-model-name="Outdoor Solar String Lights (10m)" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:133.37%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zqMEQ7z8n7HDP6eNQHc7Gk.jpg" alt="Govee solar outdoor string lights"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Govee</div> <div class="featured__title">Outdoor Solar String Lights (10m)</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="330df71c-a202-11f1-826d-e342a0aa2c0f"> <a href="https://www.johnlewis.com/roberts-revival-uno-solar-dab-dab-fm-bluetooth-solar-powered-portable-digital-radio/duck-egg-blue/p115326388" data-model-name="Revival Uno Bluetooth Solar Digital Radio" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:133.37%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3FpiTX7cnpovFuQpvFN5q.jpg" alt="Roberts solar digital radio"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Roberts</div> <div class="featured__title">Revival Uno Bluetooth Solar Digital Radio</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="330df820-a202-11f1-a15b-0da11b523f76"> <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/EZVIZ-Doorbell-Detection-CP3-Pro/dp/B0FHKWLZ6G/ref=sr_1_7" data-model-name="Solar Battery Doorbell Camera, Wireless" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:133.37%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2FqNaoBViNxzhtzKazTzV6.jpg" alt="EZVIZ wireless solar video doorbell"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>EZVIZ</div> <div class="featured__title">Solar Battery Doorbell Camera, Wireless</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="330df92e-a202-11f1-a719-557bc8cadaf7"> <a href="https://www.johnlewis.com/eva-solo-sunlight-solar-led-outdoor-lamp/p4085069" data-model-name="Sunlight Solar LED Outdoor Lamp" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:133.93%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MqxozSXceqzi5LarTjM3CW.jpg" alt="Solar outdoor lamp"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Eva Solo</div> <div class="featured__title">Sunlight Solar LED Outdoor Lamp</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div><div style="min-height: 250px;"> <div class="kwizly-quiz kwizly-eAAD0e"></div> </div> <script src="https://kwizly.com/embed/eAAD0e.js" async></script> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="330df9a6-a202-11f1-9eb3-350182f73255"> <a href="https://www.johnlewis.com/eva-solo-sunlight-bell-solar-led-outdoor-light/p4085074" data-model-name="Sunlight Bell Solar LED Outdoor Light" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:133.93%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/E6zdichUnAhc4Q9YRPAUzQ.jpg" alt="Outdoor solar lamp"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Eva Solo</div> <div class="featured__title">Sunlight Bell Solar LED Outdoor Light</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="330dfa1e-a202-11f1-860d-0593f97a2282"> <a href="https://www.johnlewis.com/kaemingk-sphere-solar-powered-stone-effect-led-water-feature-black/p114134599" data-model-name="Solar-Powered Stone Effect Water Feature" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:133.37%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iKuSspDEzX8vuMJfsvYJda.jpg" alt="Solar-powered outdoor water feature"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Kaemingk</div> <div class="featured__title">Solar-Powered Stone Effect Water Feature</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="330dfa96-a202-11f1-b792-ff9b480328d8"> <a href="https://www.johnlewis.com/philips-nysil-solar-power-outdoor-motion-sensor-security-wall-light-black/p115404672" data-model-name="Nysil Solar Motion Sensor Security Light" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:133.37%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6zJ4CBRt68w3hJgdrWGxbe.jpg" alt="Solar-powered outdoor security light"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Philips</div> <div class="featured__title">Nysil Solar Motion Sensor Security Light</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="330dfb04-a202-11f1-9928-d3b8817d3b97"> <a href="https://www.johnlewis.com/nordlux-alya-motion-sensor-solar-powered-outdoor-wall-light-black/p111998464" data-model-name="Alya Motion Sensor Solar Wall Light" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:133.93%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vbAJkGsYgBveEoAHtb7Uti.jpg" alt="Solar-powered wall light with motion sensor"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Nordlux</div> <div class="featured__title">Alya Motion Sensor Solar Wall Light</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="330dfbea-a202-11f1-af70-8785ce4d7557"> <a href="https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/solarvet-led-lighting-chain-with-24-lights-outdoor-solar-powered-ball-white-80573896/" data-model-name="Solarvet LED Lighting Chain With 24 Lights" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:133.33%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8LxgFJE94eBtx4bKA3sGdn.jpg" alt="IKEA solar string lights"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>IKEA</div> <div class="featured__title">Solarvet LED Lighting Chain With 24 Lights</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="330dfcd0-a202-11f1-9f8b-af10e93ccfd5"> <a href="https://www.thehouseofmarley.co.uk/roots-solar-portable-bluetooth-speaker/" data-model-name="Roots Solar Portable Bluetooth Speaker" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:133.37%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tz5ay8LpnWxS62zqbB6Mj4.jpg" alt="Solar-powered Bluetooth speaker"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>House of Marley</div> <div class="featured__title">Roots Solar Portable Bluetooth Speaker</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> </article> ]]>