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Plug-in solar panels in the UK

Plug-in solar panels are small kits you can fit yourself and plug into a normal socket. In Great Britain they became legal on 27 Aug 2026. Here is what the rules say, what a kit costs and how to check one is approved before you buy.

Read the UK rulesWhat does it cost?
Legal in Great Britain
Max output
800 W
Per household
One device
Tell your operator
Within 28 days
In force since
27 Aug 2026
Northern Ireland
Check separately
Verified 21 Sep 2026

Start here

How they work
Panel, inverter and plug, and what happens in a power cut.
The rules
The 800 W limit, one device per home and how to tell your network operator.
What they cost
Where the £400 figure came from and how to work out payback.
Savings calculator
Pick your postcode area, kit size and price to see a payback.
Supermarket kits
What we know about Lidl, and what we do not.

Not sure where to begin? Most people start with whether they are allowed one, then check what a kit costs. Living in the US instead? The rules there differ by state, so see where plug-in solar is legal in the US.

Approved kits: the register so far

Every plug-in kit has to appear on the Energy Networks Association register. On 13 Oct 2026 it listed 133 devices from 34 manufacturers. 120 are marked Compliant and 13 are not, so check the status of the exact model before you buy. The first entries appeared on 18 Aug 2026.

MakerCompliant devices
worldwide solar ltd31
perlight solar co., ltd.18
city plumbing supplies holdings ltd13
uksol ltd7
patiosun6
thunder energy6

Six largest makers by compliant listings. The register changes often, so this is a snapshot from 13 Oct 2026. Search the live register.

Quick answers

Are plug-in solar panels legal in the UK?
In Great Britain, yes, from 27 Aug 2026, for kits on the ENA register. Northern Ireland is being handled separately. Read the rules
Do I need an electrician to fit one?
No. You can fit an approved plug-in kit yourself. A registered electrician is still worth a call if your sockets or wiring are old. See how a kit connects
Can I have more than one?
Not at the moment. The network rules allow one plug-in device per household. Why only one
How do I know a kit is approved?
Look up the exact model on the ENA Type Test Register. It should be listed as Compliant. How we checked for a Lidl kit
This is general information, not legal or electrical advice. If your socket or wiring is old, ask a registered electrician first.
Sources
  1. GOV.UK: Households can save as plug-in solar panels come to market, 26 Aug 2026. www.gov.uk accessed 21 Sep 2026
  2. legislation.gov.uk: The Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 and Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/848), read from an Internet Archive copy of 29 Aug 2026. www.legislation.gov.uk accessed 21 Sep 2026
  3. Energy Networks Association: Engineering Recommendation G98 Issue 2 Amendment 1, 27 Aug 2026 (sections 1.1, 2, 5.1.1 and Appendix 1, A.1.2). www.energynetworks.org accessed 21 Sep 2026
  4. ENA Type Test Register: Plug-in solar devices. connect-direct.energynetworks.org accessed 13 Oct 2026