Which? has published its response to the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) consultation on plug in solar, covering a regulatory amendment and an interim product specification. The consumer body's submission is dated 2 July 2026 and is signed by Justin Macmullan, principal policy adviser1.
Which? said plug in solar panels could help households cut energy bills, and that their lower cost and portability make them a good option where a larger rooftop system is not possible. It also said several organisations have raised important safety concerns about introducing plug in solar in the UK, and recommended the government take time to ensure those issues are effectively addressed before the products are made available on the UK market1.
"We therefore recommend that the government take time to ensure these issues are effectively addressed before these products are made available on the UK market."
The response does not name the organisations raising the safety concerns, and does not set out what those concerns are. The published page carries a short summary and a link to the full response as a PDF of 141 KB; the detail of Which?'s position sits in that document1. DESNZ has not been reported as responding to the submission, and no date has been reported for the outcome of the consultation or for any change to the rules.
Plug in solar differs from a professionally installed system in that the panels connect through a standard plug rather than a fixed, separately installed circuit, which is the point the consultation's regulatory amendment and interim product specification address. Safety questions around DC isolation, earthing and protection are covered in our guide to solar PV fire and electrical safety, and the practical differences between the two approaches are set out in plug-in solar vs professionally installed solar.
Why it matters for households
Plug in solar is aimed at homes that cannot take a full rooftop array, including flats and rented properties, and at households wanting a lower-cost, movable option. That is the route by which a tenant or a flat owner could generate some of their own electricity without a roof installation, so the terms on which the products are allowed onto the market determine who can take part and on what safety basis.
For a household, the practical questions are what protection the interim specification requires, who is permitted to fit and connect a unit, and whether the installation affects home insurance or the property's electrical certificate. None of those points is settled by the Which? response, which argues for the safety issues to be resolved first rather than setting out the technical requirements itself. The wider policy background sits under DESNZ, and the product landscape under plug-in solar kits.
What happens next
Which? has submitted its response and published it alongside the full PDF. No date has been reported for DESNZ's response to the consultation, for a final product specification, or for any change in the rules that would allow plug in solar products onto the UK market.