The law says a plug-in microgenerator must comply with the DESNZ Plug-in Solar Device Interim Product Specification. That specification requires the kit to be listed as Compliant on the ENA register before it’s sold. So start with the register, then check the kit itself.
- max inverter AC output
- 800 W
- max panel DC power
- 2,000 W
- max plug fuse
- 5 A
- min outdoor rating
- IP55
Is the kit on the ENA register?
The ENA Type Test Register is the list DNOs send people to. Electricity North West says: “Make sure the specific model you’re looking at is on the list of devices that meet UK standards.”
Check three things on the entry:
- Device type “Plug-in Solar”. An inverter listed under another device type isn’t a registered plug-in kit.
- Status “Compliant”. The specification says “a device being submitted for registration shall not, in itself, be regarded as demonstrating compliance”.
- The exact variant. Many kits have several entries by panel count or mounting. Match the model number on the box or listing.
On 29 September 2026 the register had 123 Plug-in Solar entries: 84 Compliant and 39 Non-compliant. That changes as entries are added. Our device list shows the live status and when we last checked it.
What "Compliant" does and doesn't mean
The register confirms the device was type tested against G98 network requirements. It isn’t an independent check of every clause in the specification. Nor is there third-party certification: manufacturers self-declare and keep a technical file for 10 years (Government Response). That’s why the checks below still matter.
What does the specification require?
| Check | What the specification requires |
|---|---|
| Inverter output | No more than 800 VA and 3.5 A. The law caps AC output at 800 W |
| Total panel power | No more than 2,000 W DC |
| Panels above 960 W | The manufacturer must advise you to consider a professional assessment of your wiring |
| Panel wiring | Up to 4 modules, no more than 2 in series, no more than 120 V DC open-circuit at the inverter, no Y-connectors |
| Plug | Moulded, non-rewireable BS 1363-1 plug with a fuse of no more than 5 A |
| Connection | Straight into a fixed BS 1363-2 socket. No extension leads, multi-way adaptors, travel adaptors or RCD adaptors |
| Outdoor parts | At least IP55 |
| Battery | None. Battery-integrated and plug-in battery products are outside the rules |
| DC leakage | Device DC residual current no more than 5 mA |
| Mounting | Reversible and non-permanent. Cable ties, rope, tape, bungees or straps alone aren’t allowed |
| Marking | A statement that the product complies with the specification, and that DNO notification “is mandatory”, with a link or QR code to register |
| Labels | A warning label to fix near your consumer unit |
| Instructions | Where it can’t go (timber balconies, timber cladding, ACM/MCM/HPL cladding, buildings under external wall remediation, walls between dwellings), and your duty to get permissions and check insurance |
Red flags in a listing
A European (Schuko) plug, a built-in battery, “1,200W output”, or instructions to use an extension lead all mean it isn’t a compliant UK kit. A kit sold for Germany or elsewhere in Europe only counts if that exact kit is Compliant on the ENA register and meets the UK specification. Fitting a UK plug or using an adaptor doesn’t make it compliant.
Will it work in your home?
A compliant kit can still be the wrong kit for your home:
- Socket. A fixed socket on a socket circuit, within cable reach, and IP55 if it’s outdoors. See sockets and wiring.
- Protection. The specification says to check for modern residual current protection (RCBO). Homes with older fuses should be checked by an electrician.
- One per household. If you already have a plug-in kit, you can’t add another. See G98.
- Location. The mounting must suit your balcony, wall or garden, and not be one of the banned locations. See the situation guides.
- Permissions. Renters and leaseholders need consent. See landlord permission.
What to do after you buy
- Match the model. Check the model on the box matches the register entry you checked.
- Fit the label. Put the warning label near your consumer unit.
- Register. Tell your DNO before first use or within 28 days.
What to do next
Run a kit through the compliance checker, or browse the in-stock list, which by default only shows kits matched to a Compliant register entry. Non-compliant entries are flagged on the device list.
