UK Plug-in Solar Rules: Limits, Installation, DNO & Planning

The UK plug-in solar rules come from four main sources: the law that makes plug-in solar legal, the government’s Interim Product Specification that sets the requirements for compliant kits, the G98 network rules that govern how those systems connect to the electricity network, and planning rules covering where panels can be installed. Together, they determine what can be sold and used as plug-in solar in the UK. Below, we break down what those rules mean in practice.

Is plug-in solar legal in the UK?

Yes. As of 27 August 2026, households in the UK can legally buy and install plug-in solar, provided the system is a compliant complete kit and the installation follows the relevant network rules.

To use the plug-in solar route, the complete kit must meet the government’s Interim Product Specification as well as the G98 rules for connecting small generators to the electricity network.

SI 2026/848 was made on 16 July 2026 and came into force on 27 August 2026, creating the legal route for qualifying plug-in microgenerators.

UK plug-in solar rules at a glance

• Plug-in solar was made legal in the UK from 27 August 2026, provided the complete product complies with the UK requirements.
• Only one plug-in solar device can be connected per household. The Ofgem-approved G98 network rules are stricter than the per-circuit wording in the Interim Product Specification.
• Maximum inverter output is 800VA and 3.5A, meaning no more than 800W of power can flow into the home's circuit at any given time.
• A compliant kit can include up to four panels and up to 2,000W of total panel capacity. Above 960W, manufacturers must advise consumers to consider a professional assessment of their electrical installation.
• A compliant product must be supplied as a complete manufacturer-specified kit, including the panels, inverter, connection equipment and suitable mounting system.
• The kit must connect directly to a suitable socket using its manufacturer-supplied BS 1363 plug. Extension leads, multi-way adaptors, plug converters and plug-in RCD adaptors are not permitted.
• Batteries are excluded from the current plug-in solar framework, however, the government is considering their integration in future updates.
• Self-installation is allowed where the existing electrical installation is suitable, although some homes or installation work may require an electrician.
• DNO notification is mandatory when a plug-in solar device is connected or later removed from a home.

The main UK plug-in solar rules

Complete compliant kits only

The specification requires plug-in solar to be supplied as a complete manufacturer-specified kit, including at least one solar panel, a grid-tied microinverter, the required cables and connectors, a manufacturer-fitted UK plug and a suitable mounting system.

Consumers can assemble and connect the supplied kit components in accordance with the instructions, but they cannot create a compliant plug-in solar kit by buying unrelated components separately. An ENA-listed microinverter combined with your own panels, cable and plug does not become a compliant plug-in solar product.

If a component later needs replacing, follow the kit manufacturer’s instructions and use the specified like-for-like or compatible replacement.

For a detailed breakdown, see our guide to what is included in a compliant plug-in solar kit.

Maximum output: 800VA through the household socket

A compliant plug-in solar microinverter must have a maximum apparent power of no more than 800VA, with the current supplied to the household circuit limited to 3.5A. In simple terms, this means the microinverter cannot feed more than around 800W of power into the home at any one time.

Up to 2,000W of solar panels can feed the 800W inverter

A compliant plug-in solar kit can include up to 2,000W of total panel capacity, using no more than four panels. The microinverter must still be limited to 800VA.

That means the panels can have a higher combined wattage than the inverter itself. For example, a kit with 1,200W or 1,600W of panels can still use an 800VA microinverter. The extra panel capacity helps the system produce more electricity in weaker light and reach its maximum output more often.

For kits with more than 960W of panel capacity, manufacturers must advise customers to consider having their existing electrical installation professionally assessed before installation.

UK plug and safety requirements

A compliant plug-in solar kit connects directly to a standard UK socket using a manufacturer-fitted BS 1363 plug. The plug must be non-rewireable and fitted with a fuse rated at no more than 5A.

The system must also include built-in safety protections. When the plug is removed, dangerous voltage must not remain exposed at the plug pins, and the microinverter must automatically shut down if the mains electricity supply is lost. This prevents the solar system from continuing to feed power into the home during a power cut.

Having a UK three-pin plug does not make a solar product compliant on its own. The plug, microinverter, panels, cables and other components must all form part of the complete manufacturer-specified compliant kit.

No extension leads, multi-way adaptors or plug converters

The specification explicitly prohibits connecting plug-in solar through:

• extension leads;
• multi-way adaptors;
• travel adaptors or plug converters; or
• plug-in RCD adaptors.

The device must connect directly to a suitable socket using the cable and plug supplied or specified by the manufacturer.

One plug-in solar device per household

The network limit is one plug-in solar device per household.

The Interim Product Specification originally allowed one device per final ring circuit. However, the later G98 network rules introduced a stricter limit. Ofgem approved the amended G98 rules on 11 August 2026, confirming a single plug-in microgenerator per household.

Batteries are excluded from the current plug-in solar framework

The current rules apply only to plug-in solar without storage. They do not cover standalone plug-in batteries, kits with an integrated battery, or a compliant solar kit later connected to battery storage.

However, the government is now actively looking at whether plug-in batteries could be introduced in future. In August 2026, DESNZ launched a plug-in battery safety study covering self-installed batteries of up to 800W, including systems used alongside plug-in solar.

The study has a maximum budget of £250,000 and is expected to run until March 2028. It will consider the technical and regulatory changes that may be needed before plug-in batteries could be permitted in UK homes.

For now, a plug-in solar system must not include an integrated battery or be connected to battery storage if it is to qualify under the current plug-in solar rules.

DNO notification is mandatory

For a compliant plug-in solar device in Great Britain, registration can be completed through ENA's myplugin.solar portal. You do not need to identify or contact your DNO yourself: the portal uses your installation address to send the notification to the correct network operator. Registration must be completed no later than 28 days after installation.

The DNO must also be notified if the device is permanently disconnected. ENA has not yet published a clear online deregistration process, so follow the deregistration instructions supplied with your kit.

For the current process, see our guide to registering plug-in solar with your DNO.

Mounting and installation rules

A compliant plug-in solar kit must include a mounting system intended for the chosen installation type. The manufacturer must specify where and how it can be installed, including permitted surfaces, maximum installation height and the relevant UK wind and snow-load requirements.

Mounting arrangements relying solely on cable ties, rope, string, adhesive tape, bungee cords or straps are prohibited.

Some balconies, cladding and buildings are explicitly excluded

The specification says products must not be installed on:

• timber balconies;
• timber cladding;
• aluminium or metal composite cladding systems;
• high-pressure laminate cladding systems; or
• buildings undergoing external-wall or building-safety remediation.

Panels must not obstruct escape routes or be positioned in a way that increases the risk of fire spreading between homes. They also must not be fixed to walls or building elements that form a property boundary between dwellings.

Renters, leaseholders and residents of managed buildings remain responsible for obtaining any required permission from the landlord, freeholder, managing agent or relevant authority. Planning permission, listed-building consent and insurance implications may also need to be checked.

Planning permission and permitted development in England

Separate planning rules also apply to where solar panels can be installed. From 27 August 2026, SI 2026/896 brings plug-in solar within England’s permitted development rules, meaning many installations can now go ahead without a planning application if they stay within the relevant limits.

The key planning rules are:

• Wooden fences and other timber surfaces: plug-in solar fixed to a wooden fence, gate, wall or other enclosure does not qualify as permitted development. The restriction also covers wooden balconies and timber-clad parts of a building.
• Walls and balcony enclosures: panels can project up to 40cm from the surface they are attached to, reducing to 20cm where the wall or enclosure abuts a highway.
• Pitched roofs: panels and their mounting system must project no more than 20cm from the roof slope and must not extend above the highest part of the roof, excluding the chimney.
• Flat roofs: the top of the solar equipment must be no more than 60cm above the highest part of the roof, excluding any chimney. This includes the panel and its mounting frame.
• Listed buildings: permitted development rights are more restricted, and installations may require listed building consent.
• Conservation areas and other protected locations: additional restrictions or prior approval requirements can apply, particularly to prominent installations and panels on flat roofs.

Planning rules differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; the rules above apply to England.

Do you need an electrician to install plug-in solar?

No, an electrician is not normally required to install a compliant plug-in solar kit. The UK framework is designed to allow suitable plug-in solar panels to be self-installed by consumers using an existing, suitable socket circuit.

Self-installation is only appropriate when the kit is compliant and the home's electrical installation is suitable. Professional help may be appropriate where:

• the consumer unit uses older wired fuses or lacks modern residual-current protection;
• the consumer unit is unlabelled, its condition is uncertain or the correct circuit cannot be identified;
• the socket is damaged, degraded or of uncertain suitability;
• the proposed installation requires changes to the home's fixed wiring or circuit protection; or
• the kit has more than 960W of panel capacity and the user wants assurance that the existing installation is suitable.

You must also follow the manufacturer's instructions and complete registration through ENA's myplugin.solar portal no later than 28 days after the system is connected.

Where do the UK plug-in solar rules come from?

The rules covered in this guide come from four main sources:

• SI 2026/848 changed the plugs, sockets and electricity safety regulations to create the legal route for compliant plug-in solar from 27 August 2026.
• The Plug-in Solar Device Interim Product Specification, Version 2.0 sets the product, electrical, plug, cable, mounting, marking and consumer-information requirements.
• Engineering Recommendation G98 Issue 2 Amendment 1 sets the Great Britain network connection rules, including the one-device-per-household limit for plug-in solar.
• SI 2026/896 updates England’s permitted development planning rules for plug-in solar, including limits for walls, balconies, roofs, timber surfaces and stand-alone installations.

What should you check before buying a plug-in solar kit?

Price and panel wattage are not enough to show whether a plug-in solar kit is compliant or suitable for your home.

• ENA Type Test Register: check that the exact complete kit is marked compliant on the ENA Type Test Register.
• Complete product: the panels, inverter, plug, cables, connectors and mounting option should form a complete manufacturer-specified product.
• Specification declaration: the complete product should be marked as complying with the Plug-in Solar Device Interim Product Specification.
• 800VA inverter limit: check the maximum AC output, separately from the total panel wattage.
• Panel capacity: kits can use up to 2,000W of panels, but manufacturers of systems above 960W should advise users to consider an electrical assessment.
• Mounting configuration: confirm that the supplied mounting system is suitable for the exact surface, height and location you plan to use.
• Property suitability: check the socket, consumer unit, circuit protection, permissions, planning position and insurance before installation.
• DNO registration instructions: check that the kit includes the required information for registering and deregistering the device.
• One device per household: the current G98 network rules allow only one plug-in solar device for the household as a whole, even if the property has more than one socket circuit.

Update history

• 28 August 2026: Updated DNO registration guidance for the ENA's myplugin.solar portal, including the current deregistration position.
• 27 August 2026: Rewritten as an evergreen guide to the rules now in force, updated the legal-status wording and revised the device-limit section following Ofgem’s approval of the G98 amendment confirming one plug-in solar device per household.
• 20 July 2026: Updated launch-date wording after the statutory instrument confirmed the 27 August 2026 start date.
• 17 July 2026: Refined wording to consistently describe the published interim specification and launch framework.
• 16 July 2026: First published after the government response and Plug-in Solar Device Interim Product Specification Version 2.0 were released.