Open consultation

Plug-in solar: consultation document (accessible webpage)

Published 16 June 2026

Introduction

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is consulting on proposals to enable the safe and legal use of plug-in solar products in the United Kingdom.

The proposed legislation refers to these products as “plug-in microgenerators”. For the purpose of this consultation this term is used to refer specifically to plug-in solar systems (without batteries) that are designed to be connected directly to a standard UK mains socket and operate alongside the electricity network.

This consultation seeks views on:

• Proposed amendments to the Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 (PSSR); and
• The introduction of an interim product specification for plug-in solar.

The aim is to allow consumers to connect plug-in solar systems (without batteries) directly to a standard mains socket, provided products meet defined safety requirements. This would represent a new, accessible route for households to generate clean electricity, helping reduce energy bills, and supporting wider clean power objectives.

DESNZ proposes an interim product specification to ensure that only safe and compliant products can be placed on the market in the UK during a transitional period, while enduring standards are developed. This consultation and the proposed regulatory update do not cover other forms of plug-in microgenerators, such as small-scale wind or battery storage systems.

Current Regulatory Position

At present, solar plug-in microgenerators cannot be legally sold, supplied, or used in the UK due to constraints arising from existing product safety legislation:

• The Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 (ESQCR) require electrical installations to comply with “British Standard Requirements” (principally BS 7671). These standards are designed for fixed installations and do not readily accommodate plug-in generation devices. The territorial extent of the ESQCR 2002 is Great Britain only^{[footnote 1]}.
• The Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 (PSSR) require that plugs conform to BS 1363.
• While the PSSR do not explicitly prohibit plug-in solar, BS 1363 does not permit plugs and sockets to be used to connect electricity-generating equipment.

In practice, this means that plug-in microgeneration products cannot demonstrate compliance with PSSR and ESQCR and therefore cannot be legally placed on the market or used by consumers.

Accordingly, amendments to the PSSR and ESQCR, alongside the introduction of a fit-for-purpose interim product specifications, are required to enable the safe supply, sale, and use of plug-in microgeneration in the UK.^{[footnote 2]}

This is intended as a transitional approach to enable market access in the short term while longer-term changes to relevant standards, including BS 7671 and BS 1363, are considered.

This consultation focuses specifically on proposed amendments to the PSSR and the Interim Product Specification.

Any changes to ESQCR are being considered separately^{[footnote 3]}.

General information

Why we are consulting

The government announced its intention to make plug-in solar panels available in shops within months, providing households with a simple and affordable way to take control of their energy use and reduce costs. This consultation is a critical step in delivering that ambition.

Consultation details

Issued: 16 June 2026

Respond by: 30 June 2026

Enquiries to:

Clean Power Unit
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Ground Floor
3-8 Whitehall Place
London
SW1A 2AW

Email: pluginsolarconsultation@energysecurity.gov.uk

Consultation reference: Plug-in Solar Consultation

Audiences:

We invite views from a broad range of stakeholders, including consumer groups; businesses; retailers; manufacturers; insurers; residential building owners and operators; and others with an interest in accessible, easy‑to‑install clean energy technologies.

Territorial extent:

United Kingdom

How to respond

You can respond to this consultation online.

We encourage responses to be made through this online platform to assist our analysis of the responses.

If you cannot respond online, you may send your response by email to: pluginsolarconsultation@energysecurity.gov.uk

If you are responding in writing, please make clear which question each comment relates to.

Written responses can also be sent to:

Clean Power Unit
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Ground Floor
3-8 Whitehall Place
London
SW1A 2AW

When responding, please state whether you are responding as an individual or representing the views of an organisation.

Your response will be most useful if it is framed in direct response to the questions posed, though further comments and evidence are also welcome.

Confidentiality and data protection

Information you provide in response to this consultation, including personal information, may be disclosed in accordance with UK legislation (the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004).

If you want the information that you provide to be treated as confidential please tell us, but be aware that we cannot guarantee confidentiality in all circumstances. An automatic confidentiality disclaimer generated by your IT system will not be regarded by us as a confidentiality request.

We will process your personal data in accordance with all applicable data protection laws. See our privacy policy.

We will summarise all responses and publish this summary on GOV.UK. The summary will include a list of names or organisations that responded, but not people’s personal names, addresses or other contact details.

Quality assurance

This consultation has been carried out in accordance with the government’s consultation principles.

If you have any complaints about the way this consultation has been conducted, please email: bru@energysecurity.gov.uk.

Policy intent

The government’s objective is to enable:

• Consumers to legally and safely use plug-in solar microgenerators
• Businesses to manufacture, import, and sell compliant products
• A regulatory framework that is proportionate, enabling, and safe

This will be achieved by:

• Amending the Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 (PSSR) to enable compliant plug-in solar to be connected via BS 1363 plugs;
• Introducing an interim plug-in solar product specification to manage safety risks during a transitional period and supported by consumer guidance on installation instructions to support safe use;
• Amendment of the G98 Engineering Recommendation ^{[footnote 4]} to allow the connection of plug-in microgenerator complying with the Interim Product Specification to low-voltage distribution networks;
• Amendments to the Electrical Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 (ESQCR) ^{[footnote 5]} to ensure plug-in solar can be accommodated within the existing regulatory framework governing electrical safety. These amendments are intended to work alongside the changes to PSSR but are not under consideration as part of this consultation;
• Developing longer-term product standards and regulatory arrangements.

Alongside this work, other relevant regulatory frameworks are being assessed to identify opportunities to support the government’s deployment ambitions such as building regulation, planning requirements, and tenancy rights.

As well as needing to meet the requirements of the PSSR, plug-in solar products will be covered by the General Product Safety Regulations (GPSR) 2005 in Great Britain, which sets requirements for most consumer products on the market so that they are safe for reasonably foreseeable use.^{[footnote 6][footnote 7]}

In support of this policy intent, DESNZ commissioned an independent electrical safety study to test plug-in solar products compliant with existing German standards under UK domestic wiring practice. The overall conclusion was that plug-in solar products can be safely installed on UK domestic wiring provided minimum product standards were met. The full report is published alongside this consultation for information.

Consultation questions

A. PSSR Amendments

The Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 (PSSR) currently require plugs to conform to BS 1363. While the PSSR do not explicitly prohibit plug-in solar, BS 1363 does not permit plugs and sockets to be used for the connection of power generating equipment. In practice, this means that plug-in solar products do not comply with the PSSR. To permit the supply and sale of plug-in solar with BS 1363 compliant plugs and sockets, the PSSR requires amendment.

To enable plug-in solar, the government is proposing a limited and specific update to allow plug-in solar to connect via a standard UK plug if they meet the designated Interim Product Specification.

1. Do you agree with the proposed approach of amending the PSSR to allow plug-in solar to connect via a BS 1363 plug as a transitional measure pending any future changes to BS 1363?

2. In your view, is the proposed approach sufficiently clear that this update would only apply to plug-in solar products which meet the Interim Product Specification? If not, please set out any potential amendments that could provide further clarity.

3. In your view, does allowing connection via a standard plug raise any specific safety concerns that are not addressed by the Interim Product Specification? If yes, please outline the potential concern(s).

4. Are you aware of risks that this update could be misinterpreted or misused (e.g. applied to other types of equipment)? If yes, please set out the potential risk(s) and how they might be mitigated.

5. Do you consider the proposed approach clear and enforceable for manufacturers, retailers, and regulators?

B. Interim Product Specification

To support the timely and safe introduction of plug-in solar products, the government is proposing an interim product specification. All plug-in solar equipment supplied for use in the UK would be required to comply with the specifications set out in that document.

Please refer to the Plug-in Solar Device Interim Product Specification published alongside this consultation before answering the consultation questions.

The Interim Product Specification defines the minimum technical standards that plug-in solar would need to meet to be lawfully connected to the grid and covers both electrical design, British plug requirements, mounting systems and fire protection. It includes labelling requirements for products that are tested by the manufacturer and found compliant.

1. Do you agree with the proposal to require manufacturer compliance with an interim product specification before a plug-in solar product can be placed on the market?

2. Do you agree with the proposal to use the same broad approach as the German standard (DIN VDE 0126-95) as a baseline, with amendments for the UK context, to support future international harmonisation?

3. Are the engineering controls in the interim product specification proportionate to the risks in deploying plug-in solar in the UK? If not, please outline anything that is missing or over-specified.

4. Does the Interim Product Specification address all the points in the safety study commissioned by DESNZ? Please refer to the safety study results published alongside this consultation.

5. Are there elements of existing technical standards quoted in the Interim Product Specification that are unsuitable for the UK context or not applicable to plug-in solar products? If yes, please set out any potential modifications.

6. The electrical safety study showed plug-in solar was safe at a circuit level. Should the Interim Product Specification limit the number of microinverters to one per household or one per household circuit?

7. What risks or unintended consequences, if any, should be considered in implementing the Interim Specification?

C. Consumer Protection and Market Issues

As well as needing to meet the requirements of PSSR, plug-in solar products will be covered by General Product Safety Regulations (GPSR) 2005 in Great Britain, which sets requirements for most consumer products on the market so that they are safe for reasonably foreseeable use.

Additionally, the EU General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988 (GPSR) applies within the EU. To facilitate dual access to both the UK Internal Market and EU Single Market, Northern Ireland (NI) applies certain EU product safety regulations – including GPSR.

This section seeks to identify how else the government can support robust consumer protections.

1. What information should be provided to consumers at the point of sale and prior to installation, including on safety, suitability of existing electrical circuits and protective devices, suitability of dwellings, and limitations of the product?

2. Are there risks of misuse, misunderstanding, or unsafe adaptation that should be mitigated? If yes, please set out the settings in which these risks would be most relevant e.g. types of dwellings.

D. Implementation and Timing

The government has taken decisive action in response to the conflict in the Middle East to fight for consumers and businesses on the cost of living. This is an ambitious programme, being delivered at pace.  We are proceeding to enable rollout of plug-in solar within months.

1. Is the proposed timeline for introducing the Interim Product Specification feasible? If not, why not?

2. What support or guidance would help ensure timely and effective implementation of the Interim Product Specification?

E. General

1. Are there any additional comments or evidence you would like to provide to inform the development of this framework?

Next steps

Following the close of this consultation, DESNZ will undertake analysis of responses received. This will inform the development of final policy decisions, including any amendments to legislation and the design of the Interim Product Standard.

A summary of consultation responses will be published on GOV.UK via the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero website. Subject to the analysis and necessary approvals, this is expected by 22 July 2026.

The government intends to move at pace following publication, with decisions on next steps and implementation to follow as soon as practicable, considering the need to ensure a robust, proportionate, and safe regulatory framework.

1. Note that in Northern Ireland, connection requirements are governed by the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 and the Engineering Recommendation G98/NI. The application of any changes in Northern Ireland will be subject to consideration by the relevant Northern Ireland department following this consultation and further consideration of the applicable regulatory framework. ↩

2. As the Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 extend across the United Kingdom, any amendment would apply at a UK-wide level. This consultation seeks views on that proposed approach. The application of any changes in Northern Ireland will be subject to consideration by the relevant Northern Ireland department following consultation and further consideration of the applicable regulatory framework. ↩

3. Note that in Northern Ireland, connection requirements are governed by the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012). Application of this specification in Northern Ireland will require further policy and regulatory consideration following this consultation. ↩

4. Note that in Northern Ireland, connection requirements are government by the Engineering Recommendation G98/NI. The application of any changes in Northern Ireland will be subject to consideration by the relevant Northern Ireland department following this consultation and further consideration of the applicable regulatory framework. ↩

5. Note that in Northern Ireland, connection requirements are governed by the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012. The application of any changes in Northern Ireland will be subject to consideration by the relevant Northern Ireland department following this consultation and further consideration of the applicable regulatory framework. ↩

6. There is currently a parallel consultation on a new approach to the product safety framework, with proposed changes to strengthen and modernise the framework and reform market surveillance and enforcement - Product regulation: the UK’s new product safety framework ↩

7. The EU General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988 (GPSR) applies within the EU. To facilitate dual access to both the UK Internal Market and EU Single Market, Northern Ireland (NI) applies certain EU product safety regulations – including GPSR. ↩