How does plug-in solar work in the UK, and how is WA different?

The UK went from consultation to legal plug-in solar in about ten weeks, and its rollout is the closest live example for WA. The WA consultation paper says the departments “closely considered” the outcome of the UK Government’s lab safety study when writing the safety switch (RCD) parts of WA’s draft. The two approaches still differ in important ways, especially on batteries.

When did plug-in solar become legal in the UK?

On 27 August 2026, in Great Britain. The regulations, SI 2026/848, were made on 16 July 2026, laid before Parliament on 17 July and came into force on 27 August 2026.

They do two things. The first change, to the 1994 plugs and sockets safety regulations, lets ordinary BS 1363 plugs (the standard UK three-pin plug) be approved for use with a plug-in solar device. Before this, such plugs could not be approved, because BS 1363 itself prohibits using plugs to connect electricity-generating devices to sockets. The second change, to the 2002 electricity safety regulations, says a plug-in solar device must not be installed or operated unless it complies with the Plug-in Solar Device Interim Product Specification, version 2, published on 16 July 2026.

The plug change extends to the whole UK, but the operating rule extends only to England, Wales and Scotland. Which? reports that Northern Ireland is excluded for now, pending updated safety rules.

Wasn’t it BS 7671 Amendment 4 that made it legal?

No, that is a common mix-up. BS 7671 is the UK’s wiring rules. Amendment 4 was issued on 15 April 2026, and the previous edition was withdrawn on 15 October 2026. It is the current wiring standard electricians work to, but the legal switch for plug-in solar was the regulations above, which point to the product specification, not to BS 7671.

What are the UK rules for a plug-in kit?

The main ones, from the regulations, the government response and Which?’s guide:

• 800 W cap. The device must have “a maximum rated alternating current output not exceeding 800 watts”. Which? describes the inverter cap as 800 VA.
• Panels. Which? says total panel capacity is capped at 2,000 W, across no more than four panels.
• One per home, for now. The government decided the specification should eventually allow one device per circuit, but only after a matching change to the network operators’ G98 rules. Until then, the existing G98 limit of one device per household applies.
• Listed products. Kits must be listed on the Energy Networks Association (ENA) G98 Type Test Register and include a declaration of compliance.
• Tell the network. Owners notify their distribution network operator. Which? says this must happen within 28 days of installation.
• Straight into the wall. Which? says extension leads and multi-socket adaptors are prohibited.
• No batteries. The regulations’ definition excludes devices designed to take power from the home’s wiring to store it for later. The government response says battery-integrated products are outside the scope.

The consultation drew 466 responses, and 85% of respondents agreed with the proposed product specification, according to the government response.

Who started selling kits, and at what price?

Several big names, within weeks. The Eco Experts reported that Argos was the first retailer to stock and sell kits, and that UKSOL was the first manufacturer to sell them in the UK. Which? said kits had been on sale “since the end of August 2026” and listed these prices in its guide of 16 September 2026:

Seller or brand	Kit (as listed by Which?)	Price
PatioSun	445W PatioSun Lite, up to 2x465W PatioSun Max Plus	£449 to £779
City Plumbing	DMEGC 930W Hoymiles HiFlow kit	£456
Thunder Energy	Bolt 460W / Bolt 920W	£549.99 / £749.99
Perlight	PowerPlug Max 465W / 1kW	£588 / £810
UKSOL	Compact 460W Pro Kit / Duo 890W Pro Kit	from £599 / from £899
Screwfix	PowerXpress kit, 2x460W panels	£669
Octopus Energy	460W / two-panel (listed as coming soon)	£450 / £650

Which? also said the government had confirmed Amazon, Argos, Currys and Wickes would stock kits. The Eco Experts listed Currys selling InstaGen ONE kits at £499 for one panel and £599 for two. Prices change quickly, so treat these as a snapshot of September 2026, not today’s prices. The cheapest kit Which? listed as on sale was £449.

These are UK prices for UK kits. They tell you little about WA prices, because no kit has been certified to the WA standard yet. Australian costs are covered in cost and savings.

How is the UK different from WA’s plan?

	Great Britain	WA draft
Status	Legal since 27 August 2026	Draft only; consultation closes 9 December 2026
Output cap	800 W AC	800 VA AC and 3.5 A
Panel limit	2,000 W, up to four panels (per Which?)	2 kW DC, solar and battery combined
Batteries	Excluded	Allowed: LFP or sodium-ion, DC-coupled to the same inverter
Plug	BS 1363 three-pin	Australian Type I (AS/NZS 3112)
How many	One per household for now	One per household
Product check	ENA G98 Type Test Register	Type tests at NATA-accredited labs, EESS registration, RCM mark
Telling the network	G98 notification to the network operator	Install, then notify Western Power or Horizon Power
Homes with rooftop solar	Not covered in the sources I read	Not allowed at a site with a fixed installation

The battery row is the biggest difference. The UK government says battery-integrated products “raise additional technical and regulatory issues that have not been assessed through this work”, so it left them out. WA’s draft adds a battery section with no capacity cap, though the government expects most systems to be under 5 kWh. See plug-in solar batteries.

What can WA learn from the UK rollout?

The UK government response recorded the concerns its consultation raised: non-compliant imported products sold through online marketplaces, wiring in older homes, and the risk of people thinking the change also covered plug-in batteries. WA’s paper raises similar issues. One of its stated aims is to help regulators “discourage the use of non-certified imports from online marketplaces.” The imported kits guide explains why an overseas kit is still illegal to plug in here.