Is Plug-In Solar Legal in Great Britain?

Quick answer

Yes — plug-in solar is legal in Great Britain from 27 August 2026, when statutory instrument SI 2026/848 came into force (England, Scotland, Wales). But only for devices that meet the Interim Product Specification (IPS) and are registered on the ENA Connect Direct platform. Buying a non-compliant kit and plugging it in remains not legal — check the register for the exact model before you buy.

The wiring rules that govern how a plug-in solar system must be installed (BS 7671 Amendment 4) have been in force since 15 April 2026. These rules define the technical standards — 800 VA maximum apparent power, 16A per phase, G98 notification within 28 days, residual current protection (RCD/RCBO per the IPS), labelling — and since 27 August 2026, SI 2026/848 has sat on top of them, legalising the sale and use of compliant plug-in solar devices.

Regulatory timeline

The legalisation of plug-in solar in the UK has been a multi-step process involving the wiring regulations (BS 7671), a government consultation, an Interim Product Specification, and a statutory instrument. Here is the timeline so far and what to expect next:

What is legal right now?

From 27 August 2026, the following are all in place:

• BS 7671 Amendment 4 — the wiring regulations that define how a plug-in solar installation must be carried out (in force since 15 April 2026).
• G98 notification process — the Engineering RecommendationG98 process for notifying your DNO of sub-16A generation already exists and applies to plug-in solar once installed.
• SI 2026/848 — the statutory instrument that makes compliant plug-in solar devices legal to buy, install, and use in Great Britain. In force since 27 August 2026.
• Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) — SEG is operational and allows you to get paid for electricity you export to the grid. See our SEG registration guide.

All of the pieces are now in force. What the SI permits is narrow, though: only devices that meet the Interim Product Specification (IPS) and are registered on the ENA Connect Direct register can be connected under this route.

What is not legal?

Specifically, even now that the route is in force:

• Selling plug-in solar devices that are not compliant with the IPS is not permitted.
• Connecting a device that does not meet the IPS is not legal under this route.
• Using a plug-in solar device that has not been registered on ENA Connect Direct by its manufacturer is not permitted — only registered devices are legal under this route.
• Plug-in batteries are outside this route entirely. Battery-integrated products are not covered, whatever the marketing says.

Before you connect anything: check the device against the G98 requirements, plan the installation, and verify the product is registered on Connect Direct.

SI 2026/848 explained

The Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 and Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 (Amendment) Regulations 2026, known as SI 2026/848, is the statutory instrument that creates a legal route for compliant plug-in solar devices in Great Britain. It was made (signed into law) on 16 July 2026 and came into force on 27 August 2026.

The SI amends the existing Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 and the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 to create a new category for plug-in solar devices that meet the Interim Product Specification (IPS). It creates a narrow route: devices must have an approvable BS 1363 plug fitted by the manufacturer, meet the IPS, and satisfy ESQCR/ENA requirements. The final IPS v2 document was published by government on 16 July 2026, alongside the consultation response. Key requirements under the SI and IPS:

• Devices must not exceed 800 VA apparent power (maximum 800 VA and 3.5 A, per the IPS).
• The panels can be larger than the inverter limit: the IPS allows up to 2,000 W of connected DC panel capacity.
• The manufacturer-fitted plug must be a BS 1363 plug with a BS 1362 fuse not exceeding 5 A.
• Devices must meet the IPS technical specification (published by government).
• Devices must be registered by the manufacturer on ENA Connect Direct.
• Devices must use a compliant microinverter that meets G98/ENA type test requirements.
• Installation must comply with BS 7671 Amendment 4 wiring rules.

The SI uses an interim specification (IPS) rather than a full product certification scheme to get plug-in solar to market quickly. The government has indicated that a fuller certification scheme will follow, but the IPS ensures that products on the market from 27 August 2026 meet minimum safety standards.

Interim Product Specification (IPS)

The Interim Product Specification (IPS) is the technical specification that plug-in solar devices must meet to be legally sold and used in Great Britain from 27 August 2026. The government published the IPS following the plug-in solar consultation. An earlier version was withdrawn and replaced by a final version.

The IPS covers:

• Maximum inverter output: 800 VAapparent power and 3.5 A current.
• Maximum panel input: up to 2,000 W of PV module DC power. The 800 W-style limit is the AC inverter output, not the total panel wattage.
• Microinverter safety and grid-connection requirements.
• Plug and socket standards: a non-rewireable BS 1363 plug with half-insulated pins and a BS 1362 fuse not exceeding 5 A.
• One plug-in solar product per final ring circuit under IPS v2. Ofgem confirmed on 11 August 2026 that G98 takes precedence — one device per household applies. A plug-in kit can run alongside existing solar within the 16 A per phase limit.
• Labelling and user information requirements.
• Residual current protection (RCD/RCBO) requirements per IPS specification.
• Automatic disconnection on grid loss (anti-islanding).

The final IPS v2 is based on the German DIN VDE V 0126-95 plug-in solar standard, adapted for UK sockets and ring-final circuits. The government said the consultation received 466 responses and that over 85% of respondents supported the IPS. Manufacturers must test their products against the IPS and register compliant devices on the ENA Connect Direct platform (which replaced the old ENA Type Test Register in April 2024). Only products registered onConnect Direct should be treated as eligible for the new route.

G98 notification requirements

Now that plug-in solar is legal from 27 August 2026, anyone who installs a kit must notify their Distribution Network Operator (DNO) within 28 days using a G98 notification form. This is a notification, not an application for approval — an in-scope, correctly completed G98 notification for a sub-16A system does not need prior DNO approval, but the DNOcan still assess it, query it, or reject it if the installation is out of scope or the details are wrong. On 11 August 2026, Ofgem approved the G98 amendment (DCRP/MP/26/02) that confirms one plug-in kit per household, allows a plug-in kit to run alongside existing solar within the 16 A per phase limit, and introduces a consumer self-notification process. Since 31 August 2026, ENA's consumer portal at myplugin.solar handles this notification online — you verify with an email code, confirm the address, select your device, and submit. It notifies your network operator; it does not approve anything.

Note: the legal route for plug-in solar comes from SI 2026/848 and the IPS, not from BS 7671 Amendment 4 itself. BS 7671 sets wiring standards; the SI and IPS create the product-level legal category.

The G98 form requires your name, address, MPAN (Meter Point Administration Number — found on your electricity bill), system details (inverter model, capacity, panel count), and installation date. Our G98 form generator walks you through this step by step and produces a completed PDF ready to send by the checked route for your confirmed network operator.

For more detail, see our G98 Notification Guide or the G98 form walkthrough.

Approved products list

The ENA Connect Direct register grows as manufacturers complete testing. Our register read of 14 September 2026 (tracking the 13 September register state, unchanged from the 10 September check) found 49 devices assessed under the IPS route, of which 48 are marked Compliant across thirteen manufacturers. UKSOL was the first manufacturer to reach compliance on 20 August 2026, and Perlight the second on 28 August. The on-sale picture changes faster than the register: check our kit readiness guide for who is actually selling compliant kits this week. Entries from manufacturers that failed their first filings have been resubmitted or removed — always check the register directly for the exact model.

The following manufacturers have been mentioned in government or industry announcements, or have products on the register. This is not a guarantee of registration — only products listed on ENA Connect Direct are eligible. Check the register directly.

* Battery-integrated systems (e.g., Anker SOLIX with 2kWh battery) are currently excluded from the IPS specification. Only solar-only plug-in microgenerators are eligible for IPS registration. Battery products may be covered by separate regulations. GOV.UK has said it will keep gathering evidence on extending the route — so a battery-inclusive second route is plausible but has no announced date; our regulatory monitor tracks this and this page will change the day anything is announced.

Regulatory updates feed

This feed tracks every change to the UK plug-in solar regulatory position, newest first. Each entry is dated and sourced. We monitor BS 7671 amendments, SI updates, ENA registrations, MCS listings, Ofgem policy changes, and manufacturer announcements.

Frequently asked questions

Get started now the route is live

Plug-in solar is legal in Great Britain from 27 August 2026. Here's what to do: