UK plug-in solar rules explained: 800W cap, G98 notification and what is legal
30 August 2026 · Guide
Plug-in solar is now legal across England, Scotland and Wales, but "legal" comes with rules. This guide explains the key regulations in plain English, so you can buy and install with confidence.
The headline: SI 2026 No. 848
On 27 August 2026, the government brought plug-in solar onto the legal market through SI 2026 No. 848. The change allows compliant systems with an AC output of up to 800W to be connected directly to a suitable household socket.
Before this, the way UK wiring regulations were written made off-the-shelf plug-in kits hard to use legally. The change aligns the UK with Germany, which legalised plug-in solar in 2024 and has seen over 1.2 million installations since.
Rule 1: the 800W cap
Compliant plug-in solar systems have a maximum AC output of 800W. This is the power delivered by the microinverter, not necessarily the panel wattage.
That's why you'll see kits like the UKSOL Pro Max 1260W - it has 1,260W of panels but an 800W inverter. Oversized panels keep generating near the inverter's limit even in cloudy weather, which is a deliberate design for the UK climate.
An 800W system is comfortably within the small-scale generation rules - you don't need G99 (the approval process for larger systems, which starts above 3.68 kW for single households).
Rule 2: G98 notification - free, online, takes minutes
Before you connect, you must notify your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) under the G98 Engineering Recommendation. Key points:
- It is a fit-and-notify process, not an approval gate - you submit the form, then connect
- It is free
- You wait up to 28 days for the DNO to respond (most confirm much faster)
- Find your DNO by postcode via the Energy Networks Association website
- Most major DNOs (UK Power Networks, National Grid Electricity Distribution, Electricity North West, SSE Networks) have dedicated online forms for small-scale generation
What happens if you skip it? A non-notified generation system can affect your home insurance, and may cause issues if you later sell the property. It costs nothing and takes minutes - there is no good reason to skip it.
Rule 3: one system per household
The regulations allow one plug-in solar system per household. A "system" is the complete unit (panels + microinverter). You can't legally stack multiple kits to exceed the 800W cap.
Rule 4: UK-approved kit with the right plug
Buy a kit with UKCA or CE marking and explicit BS 7671 Amendment 4 compliance, and make sure it ships with a UK 13A plug (BS 1363). European kits with Schuko plugs are not compliant in the UK - a common trap when importing from German marketplaces.
Retailers are required to only sell compliant products. At launch (August 2026), UKSOL kits at Argos were the first to be listed on the Energy Networks Association's Connect Direct register - the official register of compliant products.
Rule 5: batteries and your socket
Battery storage is optional and legal, but it changes how the system behaves. Kits with built-in storage (like the EcoFlow STREAM Ultra) manage the battery automatically, charging it with solar surplus and discharging in the evening. The 800W AC cap still applies to what you feed into your home circuit.
Connect to a suitable socket - ideally an outdoor weatherproof (IP-rated) socket. Never use extension leads or coiled cable reels.
The government's own numbers
The government estimates a typical household can save up to £110 a year and cover around 20% of average household electricity use with plug-in solar. In practice, savings range from about £90 to £140 a year depending on orientation, weather and how much of the power you use yourself.
Bottom line
The rules are deliberately simple: buy a UK-approved kit under 800W, plug it into a suitable socket, and file your free G98 notification. That's it. If you're renting, check your tenancy agreement first, and if you're in a flat, check the mounting rules for your building - but for most people, plug-in solar is a legal, same-day DIY upgrade.