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Policy & Regulation

Plug-in solar is now legal in the UK: what you need to know about kits, savings, and battery rules

Plug-in solar kits are now legal in the UK, allowing households to plug panels into mains sockets. Approved kits cost around £700 and can save about £110 a year, but batteries remain prohibited without professional installation.

AI News Feed · 2026-08-27 20:14

The new regulations apply only to complete plug-in kits, meaning panels, an inverter, a cable, a plug, and any relevant mounting hardware must be purchased together. Kits must meet the government's Plug-in Solar Device Interim Product Specification, with limits of 800 volt-amps of output, 3.5 amps of current, and up to 2,000 watts of overall solar energy capture. Only one plug-in solar kit may be connected per property, and approved models are listed on the Plug-In Solar Register.

TechRadar reports that early estimates suggest a plug-in solar kit could save households about £110 a year. With kits costing around £700, the payback period is expected to be three to five years, which is quicker than a typical rooftop solar installation. An 800W kit could cover roughly a quarter of an average household's electricity use, based on national average consumption.

The first approved kits on the market are ground-mount systems from UKSOL, starting at £699. Retailers including Lidl, Asda, B&Q, and Amazon have indicated they plan to stock plug-in solar kits. John Boumphrey, UK & Ireland Country Manager at Amazon, told TechRadar last month: "The Government's announcement on plug-in solar panels is a practical step that gives households a simple way to generate their own power, reduce bills, and contribute to the UK's net zero goals."

While plug-in solar is now legal, plug-in batteries are not. Any energy generated by the panels must be used immediately or exported to the grid; storing it in a battery plugged into the mains is not allowed without professional installation. Anker Solix today launched the Solarbank 4 Pro battery, described as "plug-in ready," but it can currently only be installed via a hardwired connection by a Part P registered electrician. Anker Solix is among companies expecting plug-in batteries to become legal soon, but no timeline has been given.

The safety concern, as explained by Regen, a nonprofit promoting renewable energy, is "load masking." UK home wiring and circuit breakers were not designed for energy to be discharged back into the circuit. A battery plugged into a wall socket can supply power to appliances on that circuit without the circuit breaker detecting it, causing wires to carry more current than the breaker is rated to protect against. This could lead to overheating and fire risk. Future regulations may cap the contribution from plug-in batteries, but there is no guarantee if or when they will be approved.

There are also restrictions on where panels can be placed. They must stay away from wood due to fire risk and cannot go on wooden balconies or fences, according to TechRadar. As more kits become available, savings estimates are expected to become more accurate.