Policy · 9 min read

Plug-In Solar in the UK: What You Can and Cannot Do

A plain guide to what's allowed, what's banned, and what you must do before you plug one in.

The short answer

Plug-in solar is a small solar panel kit you plug straight into a wall socket, no electrician needed. It became legal in Great Britain on 27 August 2026. Northern Ireland is not covered yet. You're capped at 800 watts, one kit per household, and no batteries. You must also register it with your network operator, ideally before you connect it.

Plug-in solar arrived in Great Britain's law on 27 August 2026. Northern Ireland is not covered yet, so see our [Northern Ireland guide](/learn/plug-in-solar-northern-ireland). For the first time, you can legally connect a small solar panel to your own wall socket, no electrician required. But the rules are tighter than they sound, and it pays to know them before you buy.

What exactly is plug-in solar?

A plug-in solar device is a small kit. It's made of a solar panel, an inverter, a lead with a plug, and a mounting system. You plug it into a normal socket with the maker's own lead. It's designed to work alongside the grid, not instead of it. It's not a battery, and it can't store power for later.

What are the limits?

The law caps a plug-in solar device at 800 watts of AC output. The product spec sets an even tighter cap of 800 VA and a top current of 3.5 amps. In practice, today's rules allow only one device per household. That's not per socket or per room. Check any kit against our approved kits guide before you buy.

Where can you fit it, and where can't you?

You can mount a kit on a balcony, or a non-wooden wall or fence, if it's safe and secure. Nothing wooden: no timber fence, gate, cladding or balcony. You can't fit one on cladding made of aluminium composite material, metal composite material or high pressure laminate. A building under fire-safety remediation work is out too. Our shed, fence and flat roof guide has more. Cable ties, tape, string, and bungee cords alone are never enough to hold it up.

What must you do before you switch it on?

You must register a plug-in solar device with your network operator (DNO), and tell them again when you remove it. It's free, and it isn't optional. Do it before you plug in. Sources differ on the exact deadline, and our notification guide explains.

Sunny says

Sunny says: read the label before you buy. It should say how many devices your household can run and how to tell your network operator. If it doesn't, that's a big red flag.

The quick version

Plug-in solar became legal in Great Britain on 27 August 2026. Northern Ireland is not covered yet.
You're capped at one 800 W device per household today.
Register with your network operator before you plug in, and tell them when you remove it.

Common questions

What is plug-in solar?

Plug-in solar is a small solar kit: a panel, an inverter, a plug-and-lead, and a mount. You connect it to your home through a normal wall socket, instead of wiring it into your consumer unit. It's designed to top up what your home is already using, not to replace your whole power supply.

Is plug-in solar legal in the UK?

In Great Britain, yes, since 27 August 2026, under a new law called SI 2026/848. Not yet in Northern Ireland. It comes with conditions: an 800 watt cap, one device per household, and no batteries. You must also register it with your network operator.

How many watts can a plug-in solar panel be?

The law caps a plug-in solar device at 800 watts of AC output. The product spec adds a tighter 800 VA apparent-power cap and a 3.5 amp current limit. Today's network rules also restrict you to one device per household.

Do I need to tell my energy company about plug-in solar?

You need to tell your distribution network operator (DNO), not your energy supplier. Do it before you plug in. You must tell them again when you remove it. Every compliant product must carry a statement saying this is required, with a link to instructions.

Can I use a battery with plug-in solar?

No. The current spec doesn't cover plug-in battery systems or plug-in solar devices integrated with a battery. It applies only to solar PV devices that don't store energy for later use.