Law made 16 July 2026 (SI 2026/848) — in force 27 August

Balcony & plug-in solar in the UK — honestly explained.

Plug-in solar becomes legal in Great Britain on 27 August 2026, for a compliant device up to 800W. Watch the install happen below.

Last updated: · tracking the DESNZ legalisation route · latest news

Is it legal now? → What would I save?

The install · real-time-ish
click ✓ -£180/yr G98 · free · 10 min Installed. ≈ 1 hour. ✓
Your balcony, as it is today.
01

Law status board

Where UK plug-in solar stands right now — updated the day anything moves.

Status · verified 22 Jul 2026
True plug-and-play DIY kitNot legal yet
800W hardwired (CPS electrician + free G98)Legal today
SI 2026 No. 848 (≤800W + IPS v2, in force 27 Aug 2026)Law made 16 Jul 2026
days until plug-in solar becomes legal (27 August 2026)
Two kinds of email. Nothing else.

One email when devices change status on the ENA type test register, never more than one a week, and one on the day the law changes. Nothing else.

No spam, no weekly newsletter. Register changes and the legal go-live, nothing else. Unsubscribe anytime.
02

Before / After

The whole idea in one picture: same balcony, one panel added — your flat uses the free solar first.

grid only · full tariff
Before100% from the grid · ~27p/kWh
solar first · grid tops up
After≈600–900 kWh/yr → saves £130–£200/yr
03

What would your balcony make?

Rough number in five seconds. The full calculator does orientation, price cap and payback.

Two sliders. That’s it.

Model: UK yield ≈0.9 kWh/W/yr × exposure, valued at the ~27p/kWh cap, self-consumption only (no SEG).

Estimated saving £— per year, at the current price cap ≈ £— over 10 years panels last 20+ years · typical payback 3–4 yrs
🌍 kg CO₂/yr avoided (≈ trees) cups of tea 🔋 phone charges
every kWh you make is a kWh you don’t buy — whatever the price cap does next Full calculator →