Plug-In Solar Is Now Legal in the UK: What Changed on 27 August 2026

Short answer: yes. Since 27 August 2026, households in Great Britain can plug a compliant solar kit of up to 800 W into an ordinary socket. The kit must meet the government's product specification (special fused plug, no adaptors or extension leads, no battery), you must notify your network operator (DNO), and you may need permission from your landlord or freeholder. The government estimates savings of up to £110 a year.

Legal since

27 August 2026 (Great Britain)

Legislation

SI 2026/848, amending the plug and socket safety rules and ESQCR 2002

Maximum output

800 W AC (800 VA, 3.5 A)

Panels

Up to 2,000 W in total

DNO notification

Mandatory (not an approval)

Batteries

Not allowed with plug-in devices

What changed on 27 August 2026

Until this summer, a solar system that fed power into a home's wiring had to be installed by a qualified installer and registered, which made small balcony kits impractical. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero announced in spring 2026 that plug-in solar would be in shops "within months". On 16 July 2026 the government signed regulations (SI 2026/848) that change two sets of rules:

• the Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994, to allow a plug that supplies power into a socket; and
• the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002, so that installing and running a compliant "plug-in microgenerator" is lawful.

At the same time the Department published the Plug-in Solar Device Interim Product Specification (version 2, July 2026), which sets the technical rules, and Ofgem approved a change to the Distribution Code to make room for plug-in microgeneration. Retailers including Currys, B&Q, Screwfix, Amazon, Argos and Wickes said they would stock compliant kits.

The key rules for households

Size

The device's output is capped at 800 VA with a maximum current of 3.5 A. The panels can total up to 2,000 W, but above 960 W the specification says a professional assessment of the existing installation should be considered.

The plug and the socket

• A BS 1363-1 plug with partially insulated pins, moulded on (non-rewireable), fitted with a BS 1362 fuse of no more than 5 A.
• Plugged directly into a fixed socket. No extension leads, multi-way adaptors, travel adaptors, RCD adaptors or plug converters.
• Currently one device per household, under the network rules (G98).

Where you can't install it

The specification doesn't allow installation on timber balconies, on ACM/MCM, HPL or timber cladding, on buildings undergoing external wall fire-safety remediation, or on a wall that forms the boundary between two homes. The London Fire Brigade also asks residents to keep panels clear of shared balconies, walkways, windows and escape routes.

Notifying your DNO

Telling your distribution network operator about connection and disconnection is mandatory. It's a notification, not an application for approval. The London Fire Brigade advises doing it within 28 days of installation. Your DNO depends on your region (for example UK Power Networks in London and the South East); look yours up via the Energy Networks Association.

No batteries

Plug-in devices must not be connected to, operated with or used alongside a battery storage system. Kits that combine solar and a battery aren't covered by the plug-in route.

What it saves

The government estimates up to £110 a year for an 800 W kit, which it says can cover up to 20% of an average home's electricity use. Our own estimate: an 800 W kit hanging vertically on a south-facing balcony in southern England produces roughly 450 to 600 kWh a year. If you use 80% of that at the October to December 2026 cap rate of 26.32p per kWh, you save about £95 to £125. East- or west-facing panels save less; a tilted, unshaded panel in a garden saves more. If your kit costs £300 to £600, that means a payback of roughly 3 to 6 years; check current retailer prices before you decide.

Exported power generally earns nothing: the Smart Export Guarantee normally requires an MCS-certified installation, which a DIY plug-in kit doesn't have.

Renters, leaseholders and planning

• Renters: check your tenancy agreement and ask your landlord before installing. The government encourages landlords and freeholders to consider requests on their merits.
• Leaseholders in flats: the lease may restrict attaching items to the exterior; freeholder consent may be needed.
• Planning: most installations won't need planning permission, but listed buildings and some conservation areas have extra restrictions. Check with your council if in doubt.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

The change to the electricity safety rules covers England, Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland has separate electricity legislation, and only part of the new regulations extends there, so check with NIE Networks before buying a kit for use in Northern Ireland.

Next step

Before you buy, read our checklist for buying a legal plug-in solar kit in the UK and the general safety guide (written for the US, but the physics is the same).

Frequently asked questions