The short answer: plug-in solar is a small kit of one or two panels with a built-in inverter that plugs into an ordinary wall socket. Compliant kits of up to 800 W have been legal to buy and use since 27 August 2026. The government says a kit can save a household up to £110 a year.
How plug-in solar works
The panels sit in an outdoor space or on some balconies. A small inverter turns their output into household electricity and feeds it into your home through a standard plug. Your appliances use that power first, so you buy less from the grid.
According to the government, one kit can supply up to 20% of an average home's electricity use.
The rules
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Legal from | 27 August 2026 | Regulations SI 2026/848 |
| Maximum output | 800 W of alternating current | Regulations SI 2026/848 |
| Connection | A standard plug and socket | Regulations SI 2026/848 |
| Batteries | Kits designed to store energy for later use are not covered | Regulations SI 2026/848 |
| Product standard | The kit must comply with the government's Plug-in Solar Device Interim Product Specification | Regulations SI 2026/848 |
| Panel capacity | Up to 2,000 W of panels feeding the 800 W inverter | Government consultation response, July 2026 |
| How many | One per household for now | Ofgem decision on the G98 network rules |
| Telling the network | You must notify your local network operator when you install or remove a kit | Ofgem decision on the G98 network rules |
| Installer | None needed | GOV.UK announcement |
These rules apply in Great Britain. If you live in Northern Ireland, check the position locally before buying.
Permissions to check first
The government advises checking whether you need permission before you buy. That can include:
- your landlord, building owner or freeholder
- planning permission
- listed building consent
Some social landlords do not allow plug-in solar in high-rise blocks, so ask before you order.
What it costs and saves
- Kit price: the government's impact assessment puts an 800 W kit at around £400 to £600.
- Savings: up to £110 a year, according to the government. You save most when you use the power as it is generated.
- Payback: on those figures, roughly four to six years at best, and longer if you are out during the day.
- Export payments: plug-in kits are not certified installations, so they do not qualify for the Smart Export Guarantee.
See plug-in solar cost and savings.
Who it suits
- Renters, with their landlord's permission, who can take the kit when they move
- Flats with a suitable balcony
- Homes where a rooftop system is not possible or not affordable
- Anyone wanting to try solar for a few hundred pounds
Its limits
An 800 W kit produces about a fifth of what a typical 4 kW rooftop system does. It will trim your bill, not transform it. High-power appliances such as kettles, ovens and electric showers will still draw from the grid.
If you own your home and have a suitable roof, a full system is worth far more over time. See plug-in solar or rooftop solar and the cost to install solar panels.
More on plug-in solar
- How to install plug-in solar panels
- Best plug-in solar kits
- Plug-in solar for renters and flats
Sources
Correct at the time of publication, 12 November 2026.
- GOV.UK, "Households can save as plug-in solar panels come to market", 26 August 2026: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/households-can-save-as-plug-in-solar-panels-come-to-market
- The Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 and Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 (Amendment) Regulations 2026, SI 2026/848: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/848/made
- Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, plug-in solar government response, July 2026: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a58dd1e24d4d0ad06d945e1/plug-in-solar-government-response-july-2026.pdf
- Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, plug-in solar final stage impact assessment: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a58f6be5ca06bf11ccb435d/plug-in-solar-final-stage-impact-assessment.pdf
- Ofgem, decision to approve the G98 amendment for plug-in microgeneration: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2026-08/Ofgem-decision-to-Approve-DCRP-MP-26-02-Proposed-Amendment-to-facilitate-Plug-in-Microgeneration.pdf