Plug-in solar: payback and permission
Since 27 August 2026 you can plug an 800 W solar kit into a socket in Great Britain. Check what it would earn where you live, then, if you rent or live in a flat, write to the people whose permission you need. Free during beta
1. Will it pay back?
PVGIS solar data for your region, a typical home’s daily pattern, and your unit rate. Surplus that goes to the grid earns nothing.
2. Ask for permission
Fill in what you know; anything left blank appears as [brackets] to complete by hand. Your answers stay in this browser. Letters ask for consent and propose conditions — they don’t claim a right to install. Not legal advice.
The rules, as of 18 October 2026
- Up to 800 W, solar only, standard plug. SI 2026/848 changed the plug and socket safety rules (UK-wide) and the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations (Great Britain) from 27 August 2026. Kits that charge a battery from the grid are outside the definition.
- Product specification. The device must meet DESNZ’s Plug-in Solar Device Interim Product Specification v2: inverter no more than 800 VA, panels up to 2,000 W, type-tested to G98 and on the ENA register.
- Your wiring. Plug straight into a socket on an RCBO-protected circuit; no extension leads or adaptors. Homes with rewireable fuses are not suitable.
- Register it. The network operator must be told before or when you start using it; the Energy Saving Trust calls registering at myplugin.solar a legal requirement. One device per household.
- Northern Ireland: not permitted.
- VAT: retail kits are standard-rated at 20%; the 0% rate is for installed energy-saving materials.
Sources: SI 2026/848, SI 2026/896, Energy Saving Trust checklist, DESNZ consultation and response. Not legal advice. Read the full guide: plug-in solar rules and renting and permission.
What 800 W makes in each region
Yearly output from 800 W of panels, PVGIS 5.3 (European Commission JRC), 14% losses, no shading. Upright panels on a railing make much less than angled ones.
| Region (PVGIS location) | Upright, south | Upright, east | Angled 35°, south |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern England (Cambridge) | 614 kWh | 425 kWh | 833 kWh |
| East Midlands (Nottingham) | 573 kWh | 396 kWh | 776 kWh |
| London (London) | 594 kWh | 417 kWh | 815 kWh |
| Merseyside and North Wales (Liverpool) | 565 kWh | 376 kWh | 772 kWh |
| West Midlands (Birmingham) | 568 kWh | 397 kWh | 774 kWh |
| North East England (Newcastle upon Tyne) | 572 kWh | 381 kWh | 758 kWh |
| North West England (Manchester) | 517 kWh | 367 kWh | 710 kWh |
| Southern England (Southampton) | 612 kWh | 429 kWh | 850 kWh |
| South East England (Brighton) | 662 kWh | 439 kWh | 925 kWh |
| South Wales (Cardiff) | 596 kWh | 402 kWh | 833 kWh |
| South West England (Exeter) | 604 kWh | 426 kWh | 841 kWh |
| Yorkshire (Leeds) | 563 kWh | 386 kWh | 757 kWh |
| South and Central Scotland (Glasgow) | 506 kWh | 343 kWh | 682 kWh |
| North Scotland (Aberdeen) | 545 kWh | 349 kWh | 715 kWh |
Frequently asked questions
Is plug-in solar legal in the UK?
In Great Britain, yes, since 27 August 2026 (SI 2026/848): a solar-only device of up to 800 W AC that plugs into a standard socket and meets the government’s Plug-in Solar Device Interim Product Specification. One per household, and it must be registered with the network operator. It is not permitted in Northern Ireland.
Do I need my landlord’s permission?
The official Energy Saving Trust checklist, written with the government, tells renters, leaseholders and people in managed buildings to get permission from the landlord, freeholder or building manager before buying, and to get explicit consent for drilling or an outdoor socket.
Can I get paid for the electricity I export?
In practice, no. Export tariffs such as the Smart Export Guarantee and Octopus Outgoing need MCS-certified (or equivalent) generation, which plug-in kits are not. Anything you don’t use goes to the grid unpaid, so size the kit to your daytime use or pair it with a battery.
Do I need planning permission?
In England plug-in solar is normally permitted development (SI 2026/896) except on listed buildings, wooden or timber-clad walls and balconies, road-facing walls in conservation areas or World Heritage Sites, or where panels stick out more than 0.2 m next to a road (0.4 m elsewhere). In Wales and Scotland, check with your council.
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