The short answer
Yes, since 27 August 2026, for a kit that's verified on the ENA Type Test Register. SI 2026 No. 848 changed two sets of rules at once. It lets a UK plug be approved for a plug-in solar device, and it lets that device be connected and used, provided it meets the government's Interim Product Specification. The permission to use one covers Great Britain.
The route is narrow. A kit counts only if the ENA has assessed it and confirmed it compliant: a record that says registered, or “further information required”, doesn't. At our 13 November 2026 check, 145 kits had passed and we'd found 25 on sale, from £399. Our certification tracker lists every one, and our guide to plug-in solar panels covers costs and savings.
What was the law before?
Until 27 August 2026, plug-in solar wasn't in a grey area; it was unlawful. The government's July 2026 consultation response said these products “cannot be sold or used lawfully in the United Kingdom, as they do not currently comply with the Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 (PSSR) or the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 (ESQCR)”. SI 2026 No. 848, made on 16 July 2026, amended both. Our report on the change covers it in detail.
What a kit has to meet
- Verified on the ENA register. Our guide on how to tell whether a kit is legal shows how to check a listing against it.
- 800 VA output, at most 3.5 A, single phase, with up to 2,000 W of panels. The instrument says 800 watts; our 800 VA vs 800 W guide explains the difference, and the 800W kits page lists every kit at the limit.
- A BS 1363 UK plug with a 5 A fuse, into a wall socket on a socket circuit. No extension leads or adaptors.
- No battery. The instrument excludes a device designed to store energy from the home for later supply, and the specification bans storage in the device. See our battery rules report.
- A declaration on the product that it meets the specification, and a QR code to the network operator notification process. CE or UKCA marking isn't the test.
What you have to do
- One kit per household. The specification allows one per circuit, but Engineering Recommendation G98 Issue 2 Amendment 1 2026 limits a home to 1 until it's amended.
- Notify your network operator under G98 after you switch it on. It's mandatory and free, and most operators ask within 28 days. Our G98 guide covers every operator, and the network operator finder tells you which is yours.
- Mount it where it's allowed. Not on timber: the specification bars timber cladding and timber balconies.
You don't need an electrician to plug in a verified kit; our electrician guide explains when you would.
Planning permission
In England, since 27 August 2026, SI 2026 No. 896 makes plug-in solar on a house permitted development with written limits: panels on a wall or balcony may stick out up to 0.4 metres, or 0.2 metres where the wall abuts a highway. It takes plug-in solar on a wooden wall, balcony or fence, or on timber cladding, out of permitted development, and excludes listed buildings and conservation-area walls that front a highway. Flats keep tighter, older conditions. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland run their own planning systems. Our planning guide sets out each limit.
Renters and leaseholders
The law makes a verified kit lawful to use; it doesn't override your tenancy or lease. Renters need the landlord's agreement before fixing anything to the building, and leaseholders need to check the lease. See our renters' guide and leasehold guide.
Northern Ireland
The change to the plug rules covers Northern Ireland, but the change that makes using a device lawful extends to England, Wales and Scotland only. Northern Ireland uses G98/NI, and the specification says applying it there is “subject to further consideration”. Our Northern Ireland guide has the detail.
If you already own a kit
The instrument has no provision for kits bought before 27 August 2026. A kit is covered only if that exact kit is now verified, so an imported or older unverified one isn't, however similar it looks. Our guide for people who already bought a plug-in solar kit goes through the options.
Still to come
Frequently asked questions
Is balcony solar legal in the UK?
Yes, since 27 August 2026, in Great Britain, for a kit verified as compliant on the ENA Type Test Register. SI 2026 No. 848 made the change. Balcony solar and plug-in solar are the same thing. At our 13 November 2026 register check, 145 kits were verified. A kit that isn't verified, or has a battery in it, isn't covered.
Was plug-in solar illegal before 27 August 2026?
Yes. The government's July 2026 consultation response said these products "cannot be sold or used lawfully in the United Kingdom", because a plug-connected generator didn't comply with the Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 or the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002. The 2026 instrument amended both.
Is plug-in solar legal in Northern Ireland?
Not fully. The change to the plug rules covers Northern Ireland, but the change that makes using a device lawful extends to England, Wales and Scotland only. Northern Ireland uses its own G98/NI, and the specification says applying it there is subject to further consideration.
Do I need planning permission for balcony solar?
In England, usually not. Since 27 August 2026, SI 2026 No. 896 makes plug-in solar permitted development on a house, with panels allowed to stick out up to 0.4 metres, or 0.2 metres where the wall abuts a highway. Wooden walls, balconies and fences, listed buildings and some conservation-area frontages are excluded, and flats keep tighter limits. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules.
Do I have to tell my network operator?
Yes. G98 notification to your Distribution Network Operator is mandatory, and a verified kit must carry a QR code to the process. It's free and done after you switch on; most operators ask within 28 days.
Can I use a plug-in solar kit with a battery?
Not under the plug-in route. The instrument excludes a device designed to store energy from the home for later, and the specification bans storage in the device. A battery system can still be installed the conventional way, by an electrician, with a G98 notification.
Do I need to tell my energy supplier?
There's no requirement to. And don't expect export payments: Smart Export Guarantee suppliers ask for installer certification or electrician-signed paperwork a plug-in kit doesn't come with.
Is a kit I bought before August legal now?
Only if that exact kit is now verified on the ENA register. The instrument has no provision for kits bought earlier, so a German import or an older unverified kit isn't covered, however similar it looks. Our guide for people who already bought a kit covers the options.