The UK’s Plug-In Solar Shambles
Despite widespread concern, the UK Government legalised plug-in solar panels on 27 August 2026. Only very few plug-in solar devices are compliant with the new regulations yet several retailers are selling apparently non-compliant devices which means the plug-in solar project has descended into a shambles.
Government Approves Plug-In Solar
The Government announcement lauded the legalisation of plug-in solar, claiming households could save up to £110 per year, with panels providing up to 20% of average home electricity use. The announcement included commentary from the bosses of Amazon, Argos, Currys and Wickes who were delighted to give their customers access to technology that generates their own power.
The announcement also gave links to guidance on how to install these panels and the list of accredited devices and manufacturers. Readers should note the list of accredited devices changed several times during the time this article was being drafted. The statements made in this article about that database are correct as of 14:00 on Saturday 29 August 2026.
Many Devices Not Compliant
The Government announcement and the guidance says the maximum power rating of plug-in solar is 800W. Combined panels with a slightly higher rating can be approved if the inverter is limited to 800W.
Unfortunately, of the 31 devices listed on the Energy Networks database, only 20 are recorded as compliant. Eight of the compliant devices are made by Perlight Solar Company with another coming from UKSOL. Other devices from City Plumbing Sipplies, Instagroup and Thunder Energy are now listed as compliant too. Other devices from Anker Innovations, EcoFlow, Fox ESS, InstaGroup, Modular Solar Technologies, Octopus Energy, Segen and Tsuness are listed as non-compliant devices. Some of the UK SOL devices will not be available for sale until the end of September.
Retailers Selling Non-Compliant Devices
Some retailers are already pushing plug-in solar on their websites and many of those devices are listed as non-compliant.
Octopus is pushing its plug-in solar solution that it says will be available for delivery by the end of September 2026. The trouble is, according to the Energy Networks database, the Octopus device is not compliant with the regulations, see Figure A.
Amazon is selling an 800W EcoFlow balcony unit that is also apparently non-compliant, see Figure B.
There is only one Ecoflow unit listed on the compliance database and that is listed as non-compliant. The Amazon website does not warn this unit is not compliant with UK standards and does not warn that new installations need to be registered with your local distribution network operator.
Amazon is also selling much bigger EcoFlow units with 4 x 500W balcony-mounted panels with battery storage to provide power indoors. These types of units are above the maximum allowed power and hybrid battery devices are not yet allowed under the regulations. Octopus reckon they may be approved by the end of 2027.
Amazon are also selling the Modular Solar 340W and 475W plug-in solar devices. Both are listed as non-compliant on the compliance database. In the Government announcement, John Boumphrey of Amazon said they were looking forward to helping customers benefit from this technology. So why are they selling non-compliant devices and not warning customers?
Argos is now selling plug-in solar packages, and all the devices appear to be compliant and made by UK SOL. However, its website does also list an 800W ECOFLOW inverter and portable solar panels from both ECOFLOW and Anker. Neither of the ECOFLOW or Anker plug-in solar devices are compliant, meaning a plug-in solar system could be constructed from what Argos has to offer, but it would not be compliant.
Currys only sells portable solar panels but does not appear to sell inverters. Wickes do not yet appear to be selling plug-in solar panels on their website.
Manufacturers Selling Non-Compliant Devices Direct
Some manufacturers and other direct sellers are also promoting non-compliant plug-in solar on their websites. If we go through each manufacturer in alphabetical order:
- Anker do not appear to be trying to sell their non-compliant device direct to the public.
- EcoFlow is selling plug-in solar balcony kits direct to the public from its website, but the only product listed on the compliance database is non-compliant.
- City Plumbing Supplies has not listed its own device on its website. Only the compliant UK Sol products are for sale.
- Fox ESS does not appear to be trying to sell plug-in solar direct to the public.
- Insta Group are promoting plug-in solar on their website, saying their as yet non-compliant product is “coming soon.”
- Modular solar is selling both its 340W and 475W units on its website, despite both being listed as non-compliant on the compliance database.
- Perlight does not appear to have a direct presence in the UK, but some of its now compliant devices are being sold by online resellers, see below.
- Segen does not appear to yet stock any plug-in solar kits.
- Tsuness do not appear to have a direct UK presence, but Hampshire Generators is selling a Tsun plug-in solar kit. Both of the Tsuness products listed on the compliance database are recorded as non-compliant.
Plug-In Solar is selling a range on plug-in solar kits from Storm. Storm has no products listed on the Energy Networks compliance database, so we must consider these to be non-compliant. Plug-in solar also lists compliant products from UK Sol and Perlight.
Conclusions
The UK Government has already played fast and loose with the flawed safety study that only covered the most modern types of protection devices, present in only a minority of homes. Moreover, many of the devices failed important tests such as under- and over-voltage disconnection.
In its desperation to get plug-in solar on the market, the Government has cut even more corners by approving plug-in solar before there are many compliant devices available. More worrying, many non-compliant devices are being promoted or sold by Octopus, Amazon, the manufacturers themselves and smaller direct sellers. It certainly looks like the plug-in solar market resembles the wild west and the project has become a complete shambles.
source davidturver.substack.com