Is plug in solar legal in the UK? The rules since 27 August 2026
What the new route allows, what it excludes, how to register within 28 days, and why batteries are left out until at least 2028.
Last checked on 8 November 2026
What is allowed
Statutory instrument 2026 848 opened a route for plug in solar in England, Scotland and Wales on 27 August 2026. It does not apply in Northern Ireland. The route covers complete kits that follow the government's interim specification: an inverter of at most 800 VA and 3.5 A, up to four panels with at most 2,000 W in total, and a fixed BS 1363 plug with a fuse of at most 5 A. Above 960 W of panels, the manufacturer must recommend a professional assessment. The inverter must be on the ENA G98 list.
What is not allowed
Only complete kits qualify, not panels and an inverter bought separately. No extension leads and no adapters. According to Ofgem, one device per household. Batteries are excluded from the route altogether: the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has commissioned a safety study on plug in batteries, worth up to 250,000 pounds and running until March 2028. Until then, a battery in Great Britain is a normal installation for a registered electrician.
How to register
After you plug the kit in, you must notify your network operator within 28 days through myplugin.solar. Keep the kit's documents, including proof that the inverter is on the G98 list. If you rent, ask your landlord first: the new route changes the electrical rules, not your tenancy agreement.
What 800 W produces in London
The same calculation as our calculator for central London, with PVGIS data: a full 800 Wp kit facing south at 35 degrees, the same kit vertical on a railing, and a west facing railing. Your own spot can differ by a lot, so check it in the calculator before you buy.
| 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 |