Learn · Great Britain · From 27 August 2026
Plug-in solar, explained properly.
Our 15 guides cover what plug-in solar is, what the 2026 framework actually permits in Great Britain, which retailers and brands are selling it, and the practical questions — mounting position, sockets, ballast, permission, notification and cost — that decide whether it works at your address.
Last reviewed: 13 August 2026
Explainer · Great Britain
What is plug-in solar, and how does it work in the UK?
A plain-English explanation of what plug-in solar is and how it works in Great Britain: the 800 VA limit in force since 27 August 2026, G98 notification, permissions, and what a complete kit includes.
Read the guideBuy · 800W-class kits
800W plug-in solar kits in the UK
What an 800W-class plug-in solar kit is, why UK kits carry 515W to 1,260W of panels behind one 799 VA microinverter, what is included, how setup works, and which SocketPower kit to choose.
Read the guideGuide · The hardware
Plug-in solar panels UK: solar panels with a 3-pin plug
Plug-in solar panels in the UK explained: how a solar panel with a plug socket connection actually works, panel sizes and real output, why DC capacity exceeds the 800 VA AC limit, and what a complete compliant kit includes.
Read the guideGuide · Balconies & flats
Balcony solar in the UK: what it means and how our kits mount
What balcony solar means in Great Britain, what the 2026 plug-in solar framework allows, and where SocketPower kits can be installed.
Read the guideGuide · Costs
Plug-in solar cost: what a complete UK kit actually costs
What a complete plug-in solar kit costs in the UK, what is included in the price, the extras some homes need, and which factors change how much electricity a kit generates.
Read the guideGuide · Safety
Plug-in solar safety: sockets, circuits, mounting and weather
Socket and circuit checks, RCD and RCBO protection, why extension leads and adaptors are never acceptable, mounting and wind loading, weather and cladding considerations, and when to call an electrician.
Read the guideGuide · Renters & leaseholders
Plug-in solar for renters and flats: permission, planning and reversible mounting
How tenants and leaseholders in Great Britain approach landlords, freeholders and managing agents, what the planning position does and does not cover, reversible mounting, and a practical permission checklist.
Read the guideGuide · G98 & your DNO
G98 notification for plug-in solar: what it is and why it still applies
What G98 network notification means for a plug-in solar device in Great Britain, who your DNO is, the timing and process, what information is needed, and how SocketPower handles the applicable notification.
Read the guideBuyer's guide · Residential plug-in solar
Best plug-in solar panels UK: how to choose the right kit
How to choose the best plug-in solar panels and kits in the UK: compare price, panel capacity, space needed, monitoring and compliance, and pick the right system for your home.
Read the guideRegulation hub · Great Britain
Is plug-in solar legal in Great Britain?
The definitive guide to the plug-in solar framework that has applied in Great Britain since 27 August 2026: the 800 VA limit, the interim product specification, one device per household, G98, permissions and Northern Ireland.
Read the guideExplainer · The limit
800 VA explained: why a 1,260 W kit is still within the limit
Why the plug-in solar limit is 800 VA of AC apparent power and not panel watts, why kits carry 515 W to 1,260 W of panels behind a 799 VA microinverter, and what clipping actually costs you.
Read the guideTool · Your network operator
Find my DNO: which network operator covers your postcode
Enter a postcode to find the Distribution Network Operator for your area in Great Britain, why plug-in solar needs a G98 notification to them, and how SocketPower handles it for you.
Read the guideGuide · Gardens & patios
Garden and patio solar: where plug-in kits actually work best
How to position a plug-in solar kit in a garden, on a patio or on a ground-accessible flat roof: orientation, ballast, cable routing, the external socket requirement and permissions.
Read the guideGuide · Seasonality
Plug-in solar in winter: what output really looks like month by month
Realistic month-by-month plug-in solar output in Great Britain, why December generates a fraction of June, what that means for savings, and how to look after a kit through winter weather.
Read the guideComparison · Two different jobs
Plug-in solar vs rooftop solar: an honest comparison
Cost, output, installation, permissions, export payments and portability compared. Where plug-in solar is the better answer, and where a full rooftop system genuinely is not replaceable.
Read the guide
Ready to look at kits?
Every SocketPower kit is a complete matched plug-in solar system with one microinverter limited to 799 VA continuous AC output, our G98 notification handling included, and a 10-year panel warranty.
Plug-in solar in Great Britain: the framework covers single-phase solar PV with a maximum inverter apparent output of 800 VA, and SocketPower devices are limited to 799 VA continuous AC output. Plug-in batteries and battery-integrated devices are outside the framework and are not sold by SocketPower. The current G98 arrangements allow one plug-in solar device per household, and network notification remains required — SocketPower handles the applicable notification for kits bought from us. This framework has applied in Great Britain since 27 August 2026 and does not apply in Northern Ireland. Always follow the instructions supplied with your product, check that your socket and circuit are suitable, never use extension leads, multiway adaptors, travel adaptors or plug-in RCD adaptors, and obtain any permissions you need before installing.