Plug-in solar in the UK: the 800 W rules explained

What changed on 27 August 2026

Until this summer, feeding electricity back into a household socket was not permitted in Great Britain, so the plug-in solar kits sold by the million in Germany could not legally be used here. Statutory Instrument 2026 No. 848 changed that. It amends the Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 and the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 to recognise a new kind of equipment, the plug-in microgenerator: a device that generates electricity from sunlight, has a maximum AC output of 800 watts, connects through a standard plug and socket and runs in parallel with the grid. The instrument was signed on 16 July 2026 and came into force on 27 August 2026.

The technical rules sit in a document the regulations refer to directly: the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero's Plug-in Solar Device Interim Product Specification (version 2.0, July 2026). It is closely modelled on Germany's product standard DIN VDE V 0126-95, adapted for UK ring circuits and the BS 1363 plug. Where the two differ, the UK specification applies.

The limits: 800 VA, 3.5 A, 2,000 W of panels

The specification sets three numbers that every compliant device must respect:

A device can be a single panel with a built-in inverter, a panel and inverter kit, or up to four panels on one inverter, with no more than two panels in series. It is classed as Class I or Class II electrical equipment and must carry the markings, warnings and installation instructions the specification lists, including how to identify which sockets share a circuit.

Which products qualify

This is the point most buyers miss: a kit that is legal in Germany is not automatically legal in the UK. Only complete products tested against the UK specification, with a plug that meets BS 1363 and the specification's extra contact protection, and listed on the Energy Networks Association's type test register, can be connected by a householder. Mixing a panel from one brand with a microinverter from another, or fitting your own plug, takes the installation outside the rules.

When the rules took effect only a handful of devices had completed type testing, and national retailers including Argos began listing kits, with Screwfix, Currys and Wickes announcing ranges. Expect the choice to grow quickly as the large European brands bring UK versions of their balcony kits to market. Before you buy, check that the product names the UK specification and appears on the register.

The same brands lead the market in Germany, where the rules are a few years older. Their current kits, microinverters and balcony batteries are listed with specifications in our plug-in and balcony solar library.

Notifying your network operator

A plug-in system needs no approval, but it does need a notification. Under Engineering Recommendation G98 the householder tells the local distribution network operator (DNO) about the device, using a short online form, within 28 days of plugging it in. The device's instructions must explain how, and must also say to notify the DNO when the device is removed. The current version of G98 allows one plug-in solar device per household.

Batteries are not covered yet

The specification excludes plug-in battery systems and solar devices integrated with a battery, and compliant products must warn that they are not to be used with a battery storage system. In Germany, balcony batteries are now a large part of the market; in the UK, government and industry are reviewing their safety before a decision. Until then, a plug-in system in Britain is used as the electricity is generated, and any surplus flows to the grid.

Flats, tenants and planning

• Planning: in England, plug-in solar does not need planning permission. Scotland and Wales set their own rules, and listed buildings and conservation areas still need the usual consents.
• Tenants and leaseholders need the landlord's or freeholder's agreement before fixing anything to walls, railings or balconies.
• Mounting: the mounting system must suit the location and the wind loads it will see; the specification also asks manufacturers to give guidance on fire spread between dwellings.
• Older wiring: homes with older fuse boards without RCBO protection should have the installation checked by an electrician first.

What a system can save

The government estimates that a household could save up to £110 a year, with an 800 W system covering up to a fifth of an average home's electricity use. Savings depend on how much of the output you use while the sun shines: a fridge, router and appliances running in the daytime absorb most of a small system's production, while a home that is empty all day exports more of it. South-facing, unshaded balconies and walls give the best results; a 2,000 W panel array on an 800 VA inverter produces more over the year than an 800 W array, because the inverter runs at its limit for more hours.