UK consumer guidance
Is Plug-in Solar Legal in the UK in 2026?
A new route for qualifying socket-connected solar-only products starts on 27 August 2026; it does not approve every small solar kit.
SI 2026/848 changes the plug and electricity-safety framework for devices that meet the final specification.
Last checked 28 July 2026
The legal test is product-specific
Maximum output is not enough. The complete device, approved plug, manufacturer-supplied lead, mounting and grid behaviour all matter.
- Solar-only and no imported-energy storage
- Complete manufacturer-defined device
- Final IPS compliance evidence
- Appropriate G98 evidence
What remains outside the route
Plug-in batteries, portable power stations, loose component assemblies and ordinary European balcony kits do not qualify merely because they can physically connect.
Choose your next step
Questions answered
Does an 800 W label prove legality?
No. It proves only a claimed output figure.
Can I use a European Schuko kit with an adaptor?
Do not treat an adaptor or UK plug as compliance evidence. The exact UK product and supplied connection must qualify.
For the statutory instrument, final specification, ENA register and government response, use the flagship official-sources guide.