Plug-in solar in the UK and Ireland: the 2026 rules

Plug-in solar is now legal in Great Britain. Since 27 August 2026 a factory-made kit with no more than 800 VA of AC output may be plugged into an ordinary 13 A socket, provided you notify your local network operator within 28 days. Ireland has not followed yet. Checked: October 2026.

Great Britain at a glance

Topic	Rule	Source
Legal since	27 August 2026	SI 2026/848
AC output	max. 800 VA	SI 2026/848
Plug	moulded BS 1363 plug into a 13 A socket	SI 2026/848, kit documentation
Notification	G98 to your Distribution Network Operator, within 28 days	DNO
Wiring regulations	BS 7671 Amendment 4 (published April 2026)	IET
Export payment	depends on supplier and eligibility	Ofgem (SEG)
Checked	October 2026

What changed in 2026

Until the summer of 2026, plugging a generator into a socket was not compatible with British wiring practice, so balcony kits were sold in Germany by the million while UK buyers had to use a fixed installation by an electrician. Two changes opened the door.

First, BS 7671 Amendment 4, the update to the IET Wiring Regulations published in April 2026, created a category for very small microgeneration. Second, the statutory instrument SI 2026/848, in force from 27 August 2026, made the actual socket connection lawful. The wiring standard alone would not have been enough; the legal authority comes from the regulations. You can read the instrument on legislation.gov.uk.

The 800 VA limit

The cap applies to the AC side, meaning what the inverter delivers to your socket. The panels behind it may have a higher rated power. The same logic applies in Germany, and our guide to the 800 W limit explains why a larger array behind a capped inverter can still make sense. Kits are expected to be complete, factory-built products with a moulded plug, not a set of parts assembled at home.

Notifying your network operator (G98)

Every small generator connected in parallel with the grid has to be reported to the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) for your area. For small systems this is the G98 ‘connect and notify’ route: you connect first and notify within 28 days. The form asks for your address, the equipment and its rated output. There is no fee, and many sellers include the notification in their service.

Your DNO is not your energy supplier. If you are unsure which company runs your local network, the gov.uk and Ofgem pages on electricity networks explain how to find out.

Renting, leasehold and listed buildings

The new rules make plug-in solar lawful from an electrical point of view. They do not override your lease, your tenancy agreement, building rules for flats or planning rules for listed buildings and conservation areas. Ask your landlord or freeholder in writing before fixing anything to a balcony or wall. Our guide for renters and flats covers the questions to ask.

Export payments and tariffs

Large suppliers must offer a Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariff, but eligibility rules have so far been written for conventional installations with certification. Whether and how small plug-in kits qualify varies by supplier, so check before you count on export income. For most plug-in owners the value lies in self-consumption, which we explain in feed-in or self-consumption. Combining a kit with a time-of-use tariff is covered under dynamic electricity tariffs.

Northern Ireland

SI 2026/848 applies to Great Britain. Northern Ireland has its own grid operator and its own regime. Until a specific rule is published there, treat plug-in solar as a normal microgeneration installation and contact NIE Networks first.

Republic of Ireland

Ireland has no dedicated plug-in solar rule as of October 2026. Small generators up to the microgeneration threshold are notified to ESB Networks on form NC6, and installation work on the electrical system must be carried out by a registered electrical contractor. Export payments run through the Clean Export Guarantee offered by suppliers.

That means an Irish household can install a small solar system and be paid for its exports, but not by simply plugging a kit into a socket. If that changes, this page will be updated.

Before you buy

1. Check that the kit is sold for the GB market and states its compliance with the 2026 rules.
2. Check that the AC output does not exceed 800 VA.
3. Make sure the socket and circuit are in good condition; if in doubt, ask an electrician.
4. Submit the G98 notification within 28 days, or confirm that the seller does.
5. Clear mounting with your landlord or freeholder.

How the rules compare across Europe is summarised on the country rules hub, for example in France and Benelux.