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Plug-in solar in the UK: what the rules say and what to check before you buy

Plug-in solar kits became legal to buy and use in England, Wales and Scotland on 27 August 2026. They're cheap, simple and genuinely useful, but they're not the same as a roof system, and not every kit on sale is compliant. Here's the plain-English version.

What is plug-in solar?

A plug-in kit is one or two solar panels, a mounting kit and a small microinverter, supplied together. The panels go on a wall, balcony, shed or garden frame. The microinverter's lead plugs into an ordinary wall socket, and whatever the panels generate is used by whatever's running in your home at the time.

Is it legal, and what changed?

Until this summer, connecting a generator to a normal socket wasn't allowed in the UK. The government changed the plugs-and-sockets safety regulations (SI 2026/848, made on 16 July 2026) so that certified plug-in solar can be sold and self-installed from 27 August 2026. It applies in England, Wales and Scotland, not Northern Ireland. The key word is certified: the complete kit has to be listed as compliant on the Energy Networks Association (ENA) register.

The rules at a glance

How to check a kit is compliant

Appearing on the register isn't the same as being compliant: some entries are still under review or have been marked non-compliant. Before you pay for any kit:

1. Ask the seller for the exact model and ENA reference of the complete kit. If they can’t give you one, walk away.
2. Search the ENA register (ENA Connect, then Live Device Register) and filter by Type: Plug-in Solar.
3. Check that entry’s status says Compliant, and that the model matches what you’re buying. Near-identical product names can have different statuses.
4. Check the plug. It should be a factory-fitted UK BS 1363 plug, not a continental Schuko plug that needs an adaptor.
5. Check the seller shows all this publicly. It’s the standard we hold ourselves to: our product pages will show the register reference for every kit.

Telling your network operator, step by step

Plug-in solar runs on a “connect and notify” rule, part of the G98 connection standard. You don't need permission first and it's free, but you do have to tell your local network operator that a generator is now connected. That's the company that runs the cables in your area, not your electricity supplier.

1. Find your network operator. On your electricity bill, find the MPAN, a long number usually laid out in two rows. The first two digits of the bottom row (13 digits) show your operator. The table below covers our area. Not sure? The Energy Networks Association has a postcode lookup at energynetworks.org.
2. Gather what the form asks for: your name, address and contact details; your MPAN; the kit’s make, model and ENA register reference (we’ll put these on the product page and your order confirmation, and compliant kits should also carry a QR code to the instructions); the inverter’s rated output (0.8 kW for both of our kits, not the total panel wattage); and the date you connected.
3. Submit it. Use your operator’s online form. For a single home it’s the G98 notification, known as Form B. National Grid Electricity Distribution says its online form takes around 10 to 15 minutes and sends an instant email acknowledgement. Other operators may use an online form, email or a portal, so check their website.
4. Do it in time. Within 28 days of connecting at the latest. Most people do it the same day they plug in, which removes any doubt.
5. Keep the acknowledgement. And if you ever remove the kit or move home, you need to tell your operator again.

Each operator runs its own process and the plug-in route is new, so your kit’s instructions and your operator’s website have the final word.

What can it actually save?

Here are our estimates for the two kits we plan to sell. They're deliberately cautious.

Estimates only. They assume an unshaded, south-facing panel at a good angle, around 950 kWh per kWp per year and 27p per kWh, with every unit used at home as it's generated. A wall or balcony mount, shade, or an east- or west-facing position will give less. A small kit suits daytime use: the fridge-freezer, the router, standby loads, someone working from home.

Where can it go?

Anywhere that gets decent light and where the panel can be fixed securely: a south, east or west wall, a balcony rail, a garden frame, a shed or garage roof, a flat roof. Two sensible warnings: don't mount a panel on flammable cladding or a timber balcony, and fix it properly. A panel is large and catches the wind. If you rent, or live in a flat, check with your landlord or freeholder first.

Plug-in kit or a full roof system?

They aren't rivals. A plug-in kit is a low-cost way to start, and a roof system is the bigger step if you want to cover much more of your bills or add storage. If you're not sure which suits your home, ask us. We'll tell you honestly, even if the answer is the cheaper one.