Retailers join government plans for plug-in solar and consultation launched

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) held a roundtable with retailers on 16 June 2026 and launched a consultation the same day on enforcing the rules so consumers can safely install plug-in panels in their homes¹. Attendees included Amazon, Asda, B&Q, Currys, Screwfix and Wickes, described by the department as having a combined total of almost four thousand stores and significant online presence¹. The press release names Currys, B&Q, Amazon and Lidl as joining government plans to bring plug-in solar to UK homes¹.

The consultation, titled "Plug-in solar: Regulatory amendment and interim product specification", ran from 1pm on 16 June 2026 to 11:59pm on 30 June 2026². It sought views on UK-wide amendments to the Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 (PSSR) and on a Plug-in Solar Device Interim Product Specification (IPS)². DESNZ states that BS 1363 does not permit plugs and sockets to be used to connect electricity-generating equipment, which is why plug-in solar products cannot currently demonstrate compliance³. The proposed PSSR amendments would create a route for approving standard plugs intended for use with plug-in solar microgenerators where the plug complies with all relevant BS 1363 requirements². Only devices compliant with the IPS would be able to be sold in the UK and plugged in under the PSSR amendment, and the IPS applies specifically to plug-in solar products, not to other plug-in technologies such as plug-in batteries².

The consultation closed with 466 responses from trade associations, energy suppliers, electricians, regulatory bodies, manufacturers, think tanks, academics, network operators, local and community groups and members of the public². Over 85% of respondents agreed with the proposed IPS, and a majority supported the proposed PSSR amendments². A minority raised concerns about the safety of electrical installations in older properties, the availability of non-compliant products through online marketplaces, and the possibility that the changes could be wrongly interpreted as applying to other plug-in technologies². The government intends to proceed with the amendments, with refinements made in response to feedback².

"Alongside the roundtable, the government has today (Tuesday 16 June) launched a consultation seeking industry views on enforcing the rules so consumers can safely install plug-in panels in their homes."

DESNZ also published an independent electrical safety study alongside the consultation³. Solar Energy UK reported that the study concluded plug-in solar "is compatible with UK domestic electrical systems", and that the report adds certain technical and quality measures should be implemented based on extensive safety testing⁴. The trade association said the draft rules will not allow use with batteries, and that capacity is expected to be limited to only 800 watts⁴. It also reported that major retailers such as B&Q, Currys and Asda have indicated their intention to sell plug-in systems when they become available⁴.

Why it matters for households

Plug-in solar is designed to connect to a standard UK mains socket and operate alongside the electricity network, without an installation cost, reducing the amount of electricity taken from the grid¹. DESNZ says the low-cost panels can be put on balconies or in any outdoor space¹. The government states that rooftop solar panels are already saving families up to £480 a year¹, and that 2025 saw a record 269,000 solar installations completed in the UK, 37% larger than the year before, with around 255,000 of these being rooftop solar¹.

For a household, the practical effect is that a compliant plug-in system would generate electricity for immediate use rather than storage, since the IPS covers systems without batteries². Solar Energy UK states that because capacity is expected to be limited to only 800 watts, a full-scale rooftop system from an installer registered with MCS will always be the better option where possible, as it generates far more power⁴. The consultation document notes that plug-in solar products will also be covered by the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 in Great Britain, and that in Northern Ireland connection requirements are governed by separate regulations and Engineering Recommendation G98/NI³.

What happens next

The consultation has concluded and the government response was published on 16 July 2026, with Welsh translations of the response and impact assessment published on 3 September 2026². The government intends to proceed with the proposed amendments to the PSSR and the IPS, with refinements made in response to consultation feedback². It will publish consumer guidance alongside commencement of the regulations and continue to gather evidence from deployment and real-world use to inform the development of enduring product standards². The consultation document states that, subject to analysis and necessary approvals, the outcome was expected by 22 July 2026³. The consultation did not cover amendments to the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002, which are being considered separately².

Sources4 cited

1. More families to benefit from lower bills through plug-in panels - GOV.UK, gov.uk
2. Plug-in solar: Regulatory amendment and interim product specification - GOV.UK, gov.uk
3. Plug-in solar: consultation document (accessible webpage) - GOV.UK, gov.uk
4. Industry welcomes plug-in solar progress • Solar Energy UK, solarenergyuk.org