Guides
Short, sourced answers to the questions that decide what you should buy. Every rule links to the legislation, Ofgem, DESNZ or the ENA.
- guides
- 25
- sources for every rule
- Primary
New to plug-in solar?
Start here
- Is plug-in solar legal in the UK?Plug-in solar has been legal in Great Britain since 27 August 2026 under SI 2026/848, within limits. Not yet legal in Northern Ireland. The rules explained.
- Is plug-in solar worth it in the UK? Savings and payback, worked outWhat an 800 W plug-in solar kit saves a year (about £70 to £150), how fast it pays back, and when it isn't worth it. From PVGIS yields and Ofgem rates.
11 guides
The rules
What the law allows, what makes a kit compliant, and who you need to tell or ask.
- How to register plug-in solar with your DNOYou must tell your network operator (DNO) about a plug-in solar kit. When to do it, what you need, how to register, and what we couldn't confirm.
- G98 and plug-in solar explainedG98 is the network rule for small generators. For plug-in solar it sets an 800W limit, one device per household and mandatory DNO notification.
- Compliant plug-in solar: what to check before you buyCheck a plug-in solar kit is legal in the UK before you buy: Compliant on the ENA register, 800 W output, a fused UK plug, IP55 and no battery.
- Is plug-in solar safe? UK safety rules and adviceIs plug-in solar safe in the UK? What government testing found, the safety rules built into compliant kits, and what Electrical Safety First and the IET advise.
- Does plug-in solar need a dedicated circuit? Sockets, RCDs and wiringPlug-in solar doesn't need a dedicated circuit, but it must plug straight into a fixed socket on a socket circuit. RCD checks and when to call an electrician.
- BS 7671 Amendment 4 and plug-in solarBS 7671 Amendment 4 didn't legalise plug-in solar. What the wiring regulations do and don't cover, and where the plug-in rules really come from.
- Plug-in solar in Northern IrelandPlug-in solar isn't yet legal to use in Northern Ireland. Why the GB law stops at the border, what would need to change, and what to do meanwhile.
- Plug-in solar in Scotland and WalesPlug-in solar is legal in Scotland and Wales from 27 August 2026, under the same rules as England. How planning differs, and output in Scotland.
- Do you need planning permission for plug-in solar?In England most plug-in solar kits are permitted development from 27 August 2026, but not on listed buildings or timber. Plus Scotland and Wales.
- Can renters install plug-in solar? Landlord and freeholder permissionRenters and leaseholders need permission from their landlord, freeholder or managing agent to install plug-in solar. No new legal right. What to ask.
- Plug-in solar and home insuranceDo you need to tell your home insurer about plug-in solar? The rules say check first. Which policies matter, what to ask and what paperwork to keep.
6 guides
Costs, savings and output
What a kit costs, what it generates where you live, and how that turns into savings.
- How much does plug-in solar cost in the UK?What a plug-in solar kit includes, the extra costs to check, and how to compare kits by cost per kWh rather than headline price or cost per watt.
- How much electricity does plug-in solar generate?Yearly kWh from an 800 W plug-in solar kit in London, Bristol, Manchester and Edinburgh, tilted or vertical, and what the 800 W and 2,000 W caps mean.
- 400 W vs 800 W plug-in solar: which size should you buy?Does a two-panel 800 W kit save twice as much as a single 400 W panel? Worked numbers on output, self-use and savings, and who each size suits.
- Plug-in solar with a battery: what the UK rules allowPlug-in solar kits with a built-in or plug-in battery are outside the GB rules. What the law says, how to shop, and where power stations fit.
- Plug-in solar export: can you get paid for what you send to the grid?Why plug-in solar usually can't get the Smart Export Guarantee, which supplier export deals exist, and how much a typical kit actually exports.
- The best energy tariff for plug-in solarHow your electricity tariff changes what plug-in solar saves: single-rate, time-of-use and export deals, with worked figures from Ofgem's price cap.
5 guides
Choosing and installing
Where to put the panels, how to set a kit up, and how it compares with the alternatives.
- Plug-in solar mounting: balcony, wall, garden and flat roof optionsWhere you can mount plug-in solar: balcony, wall, garden, flat roof or shed. The product rules, England's planning limits, and how tilt affects output.
- How to install plug-in solar in the UK: the steps in orderHow to install plug-in solar in the UK, in order: Compliant kit, permissions, electrics, socket, mounting, label, then telling your DNO.
- Plug-in solar vs rooftop solar: which is right for you?Plug-in and rooftop solar compared on size, rules, installation, export payments and who can have them, with output per kWp from PVGIS.
- Plug-in solar vs a solar generator or portable power stationPlug-in solar cuts your bill; a solar generator or portable power station gives you backup and portability. How they differ, and which the UK rules cover.
- Does plug-in solar work in a power cut?No: a plug-in solar kit stops feeding power when the grid goes down, and GB rules don't allow a battery. Why, and what to use for backup instead.
Photos from Unsplash: Yuma Solar, Marcin Nowak, Yuan Yang, Andrew Hall, Jakub Żerdzicki, mostafa mahmoudi, Call Me Fred, Hobi industri, K. Mitch Hodge, Lisa Baker, Jonathan Farber, Maria Ziegler, Tierra Mallorca, William Warby, Sarah Agnew, CHUTTERSNAP, Sergio Martins, Matthew Henry, Siân Wynn-Jones, Jimmy Nilsson Masth, Watt A Lot, Zendure Power Station, Paolo Nicolello.