Plug-in solar UK rules: what is legal in 2026?
What changed on 27 August 2026, where the rules apply, and the product, power and safety checks to make before buying.
Understand your options
Plug-in solar guides
The rules, the practical checks and the numbers behind choosing solar for your home.
Rules and safety
How to register plug-in solar and check your device
Understand the difference between checking a product on the ENA register and registering the device you will use at home.
Your home
Plug-in solar for renters, flats and balconies
How to approach permissions, building safety and placement before ordering solar panels for a rented home or balcony.
Choosing a solar panel location: balcony, garden or wall
A practical location worksheet covering usable space, mounting, access and the questions to resolve before ordering.
Solar shading and orientation: choosing a better position
Build a useful record of your proposed location and compare generation assumptions without relying on a single sunny photograph.
Choosing a system
Plug-in solar batteries: compatibility and buying checks
Why the new socket-connected solar rules do not automatically cover battery products, and what to ask when comparing storage options.
Plug-in solar vs installed solar: where do DIY kits fit?
Compare the responsibilities, scope and buying decisions behind three very different ways to buy home solar.
Solar watts, kWh and inverter output: what the numbers mean
Read panel and inverter ratings correctly, with simple examples that separate power, energy and household savings.
What should a complete plug-in solar kit include?
Compare exact components, mounting options, documentation and optional extras without mistaking a panel bundle for a finished setup.
What should a good solar shortlist look like? Three examples
See how property, permissions and the requested installation route should change a shortlist, using clearly fictional household examples.
Costs and value
Plug-in solar costs, savings and payback explained
Put kit prices, possible bill savings and export payments in context, with a worked payback example and a complete-cost checklist.
Why daytime electricity use matters for plug-in solar
Understand self-consumption with an illustrative household example, and separate generation from the electricity you stop buying.
Buying with confidence
Solar warranties, returns and after-sales support: what to compare
Look beyond a long warranty headline and understand the practical questions about faults, labour, collection and cancellation.
How to compare solar installation quotes fairly
Turn different solar proposals into a like-for-like comparison of equipment, work, performance assumptions and responsibilities.
How to read solar company reviews before choosing a supplier
Compare review counts, recent experiences and the right business identity without treating a star rating as proof of technical suitability.