Plug-in solar panels are now available in Wales. Here's what you need to know

What are plug-in solar panels?

Plug-in solar panels are smaller solar energy systems that can be used without installing a full set of panels on your roof.

You may also hear them called:

• Balcony solar panels

• Mini solar panels

• Plug-and-play solar panels

• DIY solar panels

How do plug-in solar panels work?

Plug-in solar panels turn daylight into electricity that can be used by your appliances.

They work by:

• Capturing energy from daylight and turning it into electricity.

• A small device called a microinverter connects to the solar panel(s) and changes this electricity into the type used in your home.

• The system feeds the electricity into your home through a suitable plug socket.

• Appliances running at that moment use the solar electricity, reducing how much power your home needs to take from the grid.

Plug-in solar panels do not normally store electricity.

Instead, the electricity they make is used around your home as it is generated. This means your home needs to take less electricity from the grid, which can help reduce your energy bill.

For example, if your fridge, Wi-Fi router, television and other appliances are using 600 watts, and your panels are generating 500 watts, your home only needs to take the remaining 100 watts from the grid.

If you switch on a more powerful appliance, like a kettle, the panels will still provide whatever electricity they are generating. The grid supplies the rest automatically.

You don't need to switch between solar electricity and grid electricity yourself. Your home manages this automatically.

How much do plug-in solar panels cost?

According to UK solar company UKSOL, one of its first one-panel kits will cost £699, while a two-panel kit will cost £1,089.

The UK Government expects prices to settle at around £400 to £600 as more systems are developed and more retailers begin selling them.

Before buying, check exactly what is included in the price. You may also need to pay for:

• An electrical safety check

• A suitable outdoor socket

• Safe mounting equipment

• Help securing the panels

• Delivery

It is worth comparing the full cost with the amount you are likely to save each year.

Be careful of any seller promising very large savings or claiming a plug-in system will power your whole home.

Will plug-in solar panels save me money?

They could, although they will generate less electricity and deliver smaller savings than a full rooftop solar system.

UK Government research suggests a household could save between £70 and £110 a year on its electricity bill.

Your actual savings will depend on:

• How much the system costs

• How much electricity it generates

• Which direction the panels face

• Whether they are shaded

• How much electricity you use during daylight hours

• The price you pay for electricity

• Whether you have an existing rooftop solar system

An unshaded, south-facing space will usually generate the most electricity. The panels will still work on cloudy days, but they will make less power than they would in bright sunshine.

Households that use more electricity during the day are likely to save the most because they can use more of the electricity as it is generated.

How much electricity can plug-in solar panels generate?

Under the new rules, a plug-in solar system can send no more than 800 watts of electricity into your home.

Some kits may include solar panels capable of generating more than this, but the microinverter will limit the amount entering the home to 800 watts.

The UK Government says this could provide around a fifth of the average household’s electricity while the panels are generating at their full output.

That could help cover the electricity used by appliances that run throughout the day, including:

• A fridge or freezer

• A Wi-Fi router

• Televisions

• Computers and monitors

• Devices left on standby

• Some washing machines or dishwashers while running

It will not power every appliance in your home at once.

For example, a kettle can use around 3,000 watts. If the panels are producing 800 watts when you switch on the kettle, the panels can provide part of the electricity, and the grid will supply the rest.

The aim is to reduce how much electricity you buy during the day, rather than replace your usual electricity supply.

Can you save the electricity you generate for later?

No, not with the standard plug-in solar systems covered by the new rules which exclude systems that include a home battery to store spare electricity for the evening or another day.

If your panels generate more electricity than your home is using, the extra electricity will flow back into the grid.

However, you are unlikely to be paid for it. Plug-in systems will not normally qualify for the Smart Export Guarantee, which pays some households for renewable electricity sent to the grid.

This is because plug-in systems do not need to be installed and certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) in the same way as most rooftop solar systems.

To get the most from plug-in solar, it makes sense to use appliances during daylight hours when the panels are generating electricity.

Are plug-in solar panels suitable for every home?

No. “Plug-in” does not mean that every home is ready to use one safely.

Consumer safety charity Electrical Safety First has raised concerns about how plug-in solar could interact with some older electrical safety devices.

These devices, known as residual current devices or RCDs, are designed to protect people from electric shocks.

Electrical Safety First recommends having your home’s electrics checked by a registered electrician before buying a plug-in solar system. This is particularly important if:

• You live in an older property

• You do not know when the wiring was last checked

• You do not know which type of RCD you have

• Your sockets or fuse box are old

• Your electrics have previously caused problems

An electrician can check whether your wiring, socket and RCD protection are suitable.

Five checks to make before buying plug-in solar panels

1. Check that the system is approved

Look for the product on the Energy Networks Association’s public register.

Do not assume that every plug-in solar product advertised online meets the new rules.

2. Have your electrics checked

Ask a registered electrician to check your wiring, socket and RCD protection before you buy. Should changes to your wiring, sockets and RCD system be needed this may require Building Regulations approval. If Building Regulations approval is needed, the associated work must be undertaken by an electrician registered with a Self-Certification Scheme (also known as a Competent Persons Scheme) or alternatively via a Building Regulations application to a building control body (i.e. the Local Authority or a Registered Building Control Approver).

The solar system itself may not need professional installation, but your home must be suitable for it.

3. Never use an extension lead

A plug-in solar system must not be connected through:

• An extension lead

• A cable reel

• A multi-plug adaptor

• A travel adaptor

• A plug-in RCD adaptor

These can become overloaded or overheat.

4. Only connect one system

Only one approved plug-in solar device is currently allowed per property (for further details please see Engineering Recommendation G98 Issue 2 Amendment 1 2026)..

You must not join several kits together or change the plug, cable or microinverter.

5. Buy from a trusted retailer

Electrical Safety First recommends buying from an established retailer or its official website.

Be careful when buying from third-party sellers on online marketplaces. Products may look similar but may not meet the new UK safety rules.

Are plug-in solar panels safe?

Approved plug-in solar systems include safety features designed to protect your home and the electricity network.

The microinverter constantly checks the connection between the panels, your home and the grid.

If there is a power cut or the system is unplugged, the microinverter should detect this and stop sending electricity into the wiring within milliseconds.

This prevents the system from sending live electricity into wiring during a power cut.

To be legally sold in Great Britain, a plug-in solar system must meet the UK Government’s product requirements and be tested against the electricity industry’s G98 standard.

You can check whether a product is listed as compliant on the Energy Networks Association’s public register.

Why can I only connect one system?

The current rules allow one plug-in solar device per property. For further information on this please see Engineering Recommendation G98 Issue 2 Amendment 1 2026).

A single device may include more than one solar panel, but its output to the home must not exceed 800 watts from the microinverter.

This limit has been set for safety reasons. Connecting several separate systems could affect the electrical safety devices in your home.

The rules may change in the future as the technology develops and more evidence becomes available. For now, households must only connect one approved system.

Where can plug-in solar panels be installed?

Plug-in panels need a secure outdoor space that receives plenty of daylight.

Depending on the product and the property, they could be placed in:

• A garden

• A patio

• A suitable balcony

• An outbuilding

• A flat outdoor area

• Another secure, unshaded space

Some panels may be suitable for a wall or balcony, but they must be properly secured so they cannot fall, move in strong winds or put other people at risk.

You may need permission from your:

• Landlord

• Housing association

• Freeholder

• Building owner

• Local planning or building control authority

This may be particularly important if you live in a flat, listed building or conservation area.

Always check before attaching panels to a building or shared space.

Is planning permission needed?

There are limits granted by planning permitted development rights to the size of solar panel which can be installed before planning permission is required. 

These are normally that it cannot exceed:

• Four metres in height

• Three metres in any dimension on the panel itself

• Nine square metres total panel surface.

These limits may be smaller or permitted development rights could be withdrawn entirely in some places. Planning permission would be required for any solar panels that exceed these dimensions, or where permitted development rights have been withdrawn. It is best to check with your local planning authority before proceeding.

How do I install plug-in solar panels?

Approved systems will come with a mounting kit and instructions.

You may need tools to put the system together and secure the panels, but professional installation is not always required.

Once the panels are mounted safely, you connect them to the microinverter and plug the system into a suitable socket. An outdoor weatherproof socket may be the safest and most practical option, depending on the system and your home.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Do not make changes to the cables, plug, panels or microinverter.

If you are not confident that you can mount the panels securely, ask a suitable professional for help.

Do I need to tell my energy supplier?

You must tell your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) within 28 days of connecting the system. Further guidance and information should be obtained from the relevant DNO.

Your DNO is the company responsible for the electricity cables in your area. It is not the company that sends you your energy bill.

You can find your local DNO using the National Grid postcode checker.

The instructions supplied with an approved system should also explain what information you need to provide.

Can renters use plug-in solar panels?

Potentially, yes.

Because plug-in solar panels do not always need to be permanently attached to a property, they may offer some renters a way to make clean electricity at home.

However, you may need permission from your landlord, housing association, freeholder or building owner.

You will also need:

• A suitable outdoor space

• A safe way to secure the panels

• Access to a suitable socket

• Electrics that are safe to use with the system

Check your tenancy agreement and ask for permission (e.g. from your landlord, housing association, freeholder or building owner) before buying or installing anything.

Are plug-in solar panels worth it?

They may be worth considering if you:

• Cannot install traditional rooftop solar panels

• Want a lower-cost way to make some electricity at home

• Have a sunny garden, patio or suitable balcony

• Use electricity during the day

• Want a system that may be moved to another property

• Understand that the savings will be fairly modest

They may be less suitable if:

• Your outdoor space is heavily shaded

• You use very little electricity during the day

• Your home’s wiring needs major work

• You cannot safely secure the panels

• You do not have permission to install them (e.g from your landlord, housing association, freeholder, building owner or local planning or building control authority, where applicable)

Plug-in solar panels will not power your whole home or remove your electricity bill. But for some households, they could provide a more affordable first step into solar energy.

For more on plug-in solar panels, check out Energy Saving Trust’s advice on what to check before you buy. You can also find the UK Government’s plug-in solar device product specification here.

Common questions about solar panels

Do plug-in solar panels work in Wales during winter?

Yes. Solar panels use daylight, not heat, to generate electricity.

They can still produce electricity on cold or cloudy days. However, they will usually generate less during winter because there are fewer daylight hours and the sun is lower in the sky.

A clear, south-facing space without shade will help the panels produce as much electricity as possible throughout the year.

Will they work during a power cut?

No.

Approved plug-in solar systems are designed to switch off automatically during a power cut. This protects engineers who may be working on the electricity network.

The standard systems covered by the new rules should not be treated as a backup electricity supply.