Plug in solar (only solar) legal from 27th August

Aussie_Tips

As of 27th of August it will become law that you can plug in an 800w micro inverter with attached solar of up to 2000w into a standard UK power socket.

This law change only applies to plug in devices that generate from solar only and does not extend to any device which stores electricity for later use (aka plug in battery)

Specific legislatory instrument that has been signed into law

legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/848/made

Note - the plug must comply with the Plugin Solar interim product specification which includes the following

• only one inverter per ring main
• the inverter must be designed not to exceed 800w, so a feature that allows tweaking this (ie by selection of a different country code) does not meet the IPS.
• the DC input on the panel side cannot exceed 2000w, and if it is above 960w it is recommended to get professional assessment of the household electrics before installation
• the AC plug must be protected with a a fuse no greater than 5amp

**IPS is Interim Product Specification

Full details of government review can be found at the link below

gov.uk/government/consultations/plug-in-solar

Ectophile

only one inverter per ring main

The pedant in me wants to ask what happens on a radial circuit. My garage has 2 double sockets, but they aren't on a ring. Can I plug in 4 sets of panels, or none?

Screwdriva

Fascinating - thanks for sharing!

I wonder if an explanation was given as to why Plug In batteries are not included, as this would have been equally impactful on grid demand flattening.

Technically, could I literally just plug my one spare 570w bifacial panel into this inverter and then plug the inverter into my outdoor wall socket?

Aussie_Tips

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82078581#Comment_82078581

If you read the IPS it's very clear it's one device per household

"Only one plug-in solar product shall be used per household final ring circuit to ensure the currents flowing through the electrical connection to the consumer unit remain within safe levels.

NOTE: While this specification permits one device per final circuit, GB network connection requirements also apply. As of publication, current network requirements Engineering Recommendation G98 Issue 2 Amendment 1 2026 restrict this to one device per household, which applies unless and until that is amended."

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a60a03c47af652afa0c89f5/plug-in-solar-final-_interim-product-specification.pdf

Aussie_Tips

Yes you could. Although if you already have a DNO approved solar array, you will have to apply for a G99 - listing all inverters in your household - as your inverter capacity will exceed 3.6 kW

Screwdriva

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82078664#Comment_82078664

I have a G99 already with 5kW export approved (in line with my existing inverter size). Do you believe I would need to reapply to accommodate the additional plug in inverter?

NedS

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82078678#Comment_82078678

By my reading of it - yes, because if you add a second inverter, even if it is covered by the plug-in solar regs, you would now be exceeding your previously approved G99 (your G99 only approves your currently installed inverter) so you would need a new G99 application to cover both inverters (and your approved export may go down significantly if more solar has been installed in your area since your previous application was approved)

Put simply, plug-in solar is intended for those who do not already have solar, either under G98 (which permits up to 3.68kW) or G99 (for devices totalling over 3.68kW).

For example:

1. Customer has an existing 3kW inverter installed under G98 and wishes to add plug-in solar. The new plug-in solar inverter is 800W, giving a combined total of 3.8kW, which exceeds the G98 limit, so a G99 application is now required.
2. Customer has an existing 5kW inverter installed under G99 approval and wishes to add plug-in solar on shed roof. A new G99 approval is required as the previous approval was only for the original 5kW inverter, regardless of how the new plug-in solar inverter may affect any export to the grid.
3. Customer has no existing solar - they can purchase plug-in solar and presumably register this under a G98 install and notify arrangement (it's currently unclear to me whether G98 notification is required for plug-in solar).

Heedtheadvice

@Ectofile, The regulation changes only allow use on a ring circuit. Presumably this is because of a fairly minimal impact on the diversified current carrying capacity of an installed ring circuit and hence low risk ( just my guess!! ).

Not approved for radial circuits. In practice many home installations will be just plugged in without the knowledge of the type of circuit involved, IMHO.

It is probably worth adding that DNOs must still be informed via a simple G98 form that will be available online.

It is a shame that approval is not yet given for storage connection as that would typically increase the benefit from much higher self use of the solar generation.

SEG will not be available for the unused generation that is exported.

pensionpawn

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82078683#Comment_82078683

Unless you have the electronics / software to throttle total household export at the existing DNO limit...

NedS

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82078770#Comment_82078770

I don't believe so.

G98 and G99 are not just about export limits. They govern microgeneration capacity, i.e, the inverter itself.

Aussie_Tips

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82078770#Comment_82078770

Whether you can throttle it or not is irrelevant to DNO notification/approval requirements.

Even if the inverter is throttled to zero export it still requires notified the DNO