Plug in solar, power stations and batteries, with real numbers
An independent guide for the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France and Belgium: what is allowed, what a balcony system really produces and what storing a kWh really costs.
Calculate your yieldRules in your country
- 6 countries with check dates
- 24 guides in 3 languages
- EU PVGIS solar data
- Prices sorted by price only
- No tracking cookies
Tools
Yield calculatorYield, own use and payback for your balcony, from EU solar data.Rules by country800 W, registration and batteries in six countries, each with its check date.Runtime calculatorHow long a power station really runs your fridge, router or laptop.ProductsPrices by market and the cost of every stored kWh.
Guides by topic
All guidesPlug in solar
Yield, the 800 W rule, registration and what is allowed in each country.
- Plug in solar: how much it really produces and what is allowed
- 800 VA, 960 Wp or 2,000 Wp? The German law and the German standard do not say the same thing
- A 3000 W plug in solar kit: why it is not plug and play
- Is plug in solar legal in the UK? The rules since 27 August 2026
- Declaring a plug in solar kit in France and Belgium
- Balcony solar in Austria: 800 W, registration, VAT and subsidies
- Balcony solar in Switzerland: why 600 W still applies
- Balcony solar in a rented flat or a shared building in Germany
- Plug in solar in a rented or jointly owned flat in France
Batteries
Whether a battery pays off, what is legal, cost per stored kWh, safety and lifetime.
- Home batteries: worth it with or without solar?
- Are plug in batteries legal? UK, Germany, France and more
- Adding a battery to plug in solar you already have
- Battery cost per kWh: the fair way to compare (price per stored kWh)
- Battery prices in 2027: what the Chinese export rebate change means
- Plug in solar batteries in winter and outdoors: frost, rain and standby
- LFP vs NMC: which battery is safer at home?
- How long do home batteries last? Eight years of field data
- Home battery without solar in the UK: when charging at night pays
- New EU rules for batteries and connected devices: what changes for buyers in 2026 and 2027
Power stations
Usable capacity, real runtime and sizing for power cuts and camping.
- Portable power stations: how to choose one that really lasts
- What size power station do you need for power cuts?
- Power station vs generator: safety, noise, fuel and cost per kWh
- Power stations for camping and campervans: size, charging and cold nights
- Power station or balcony battery: which one fits your situation?
Rules at a glance
All rules with sourcesThe European Commission's Recommendation (EU) 2026/1007 of 30 April 2026 asks member states to remove obstacles for plug in batteries and balcony solar up to 800 W. It is not binding, but most countries now use 800 W.
| Country | Inverter | Registration | Checked on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 800 VA | Marktstammdatenregister only, within one month of start | 7 Nov 2026 |
| Austria | 800 W | Notify your grid operator at least two weeks before you start | 8 Nov 2026 |
| Switzerland | 600 W AC per metered circuit | Written notice to the grid operator before operation | 7 Nov 2026 |
| United Kingdom | 800 VA and 3.5 A, one device per household | Tell your network operator via myplugin.solar within 28 days | 7 Nov 2026 |
| France | No official limit found for plug in kits; the market uses 800 W | Enedis self consumption agreement (CACSI), free, at any power | 8 Nov 2026 |
| Belgium | 800 W per household (per guides) | Wallonia and Brussels: declaration required. Flanders: not mandatory below 800 W. | 7 Nov 2026 |
What 800 W produces in seven cities
Your own address in the calculator| City | Panels | South, 35° | South, vertical | West, vertical | Own use and savings (south, vertical) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | 800 Wp | 794 kWh | 581 kWh | 395 kWh | 392 kWh, £101.97 |
| Berlin | 800 Wp | 819 kWh | 596 kWh | 408 kWh | 395 kWh, €146.04 |
| Vienna | 800 Wp | 906 kWh | 640 kWh | 445 kWh | 408 kWh, €122.49 |
| Zurich | 600 Wp | 663 kWh | 467 kWh | 322 kWh | 353 kWh, CHF 102.28 |
| Paris | 800 Wp | 887 kWh | 633 kWh | 436 kWh | 407 kWh, €101.65 |
| Lyon | 800 Wp | 988 kWh | 685 kWh | 480 kWh | 420 kWh, €104.95 |
| Brussels | 800 Wp | 807 kWh | 583 kWh | 404 kWh | 393 kWh, €129.53 |