The government first announced the move in March 2026, with the aim of opening solar up to renters and flat dwellers: people who have never had a practical route to generating their own power. It is a welcome step, and one the solar industry has been watching closely.
But how does plug-in solar compare with a traditional rooftop installation? And what should homeowners across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset make of it?
Below, we explain what the new rules allow, what they leave out, and where each option makes sense.
The basics
What is plug-in solar?
Plug-in solar, sometimes called ‘balcony’ solar, is a scaled-down version of a rooftop array: typically one or two panels connected to a small microinverter, mounted on a balcony, wall or garden frame, and plugged into an ordinary 13 A socket.
How the electricity moves
The electricity it generates feeds whatever is running in the home at that moment, reducing the amount drawn from the grid.
The legal framework
What the new rules allow, and what they leave out
SI 2026/848 comes into force on 27 August 2026. From that date, a compliant plug-in solar product can legally be connected through a standard socket, provided it meets some strict conditions.
27 August 2026 is the key date.
Side-by-side
Plug-in solar vs rooftop solar: how they compare
On paper the two do the same job. In practice they are built for different homes, different budgets and different results.
| Compare | Plug-in solar | Rooftop solar |
|---|---|---|
| System size | Up to 800W of output, fed by a maximum of 2,000W of panels Up to 800W | Typically 3-6 kWp (around 6-12 panels) 3–6 kWp |
| Typical annual generation | Around 600-800 kWh a year for a well-positioned system, although generation can be substantially lower or higher depending on panel capacity, location, orientation, tilt and shading 600–800 kWh | Around 3,500-4,200 kWh a year for a well-positioned 4 kWp system in South West England, depending on location, orientation, roof pitch and shading 3,500–4,200 kWh |
| Battery storage | Not permitted under the plug-in route Not permitted | Fully compatible; systems can be designed around storage such as the Tesla Powerwall 3 Compatible |
| Export payments (SEG) | Not normally eligible; SEG suppliers typically require MCS or equivalent certification Not normally eligible | Normally eligible with MCS or equivalent certification and compliant export metering Normally eligible |
| Backup in a power cut | None; devices must shut down when the grid goes down No backup | Available when paired with a compatible battery system Available |
| Consumer protection | A retail purchase, normally self-installed. Statutory consumer rights and product warranties apply, but there is no MCS installer guarantee | MCS-certified installation with manufacturer warranties and a written installation guarantee. RECC members must provide at least a two-year, transferable, insurance-backed installation guarantee |
| Upfront cost | Indicatively around £350-£1,000, depending on panel capacity, mounting equipment and monitoring features; UK pricing is uncertain at the moment £350–£1,000 | From £4,500 for a 3 kWp system with Simple Solar, subject to survey and current pricing From £4,500 |
| Best suited to | Renters, flats and homes without a usable roof, subject to any necessary landlord, freeholder, planning or building-management permissions and having a safe, suitable mounting location Plug-in solar | Homeowners looking for a meaningful, long-term reduction in their bills Rooftop solar |
Electrical safety
The safety debate
Safety is where opinion in the industry divides, and it is worth being straightforward about both sides.
Consumers should check that any product has completed the required UK testing and registration process rather than assuming a European-approved product automatically complies with the new British requirements.
What it means locally
What it means for homeowners in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset
For renters and flat dwellers, plug-in solar is good news. It gives people who could never arrange a rooftop installation a legal, low-cost way into solar power, and the industry should welcome it.
For homeowners with a suitable roof, a professionally installed rooftop solar system, offers a very different proposition. An 800W plug-in device can trim daytime consumption; a properly sized rooftop system changes the shape of the household’s energy bill.
Rooftop solar generates several times more electricity, qualifies for export payments, and works with battery storage such as the Tesla Powerwall 3 to cover the evenings, and comes with the certification, warranties and consumer protection that a self-installed product cannot offer.
If rooftop solar is the right option for your home, the next decision is which panels to choose. Our Aiko Neostar vs SunPower M Class comparison looks at two of the premium panels we install, including efficiency, construction, warranty and which suits different homes.
"Plug-in solar is a welcome way in for renters, but it is a different product doing a different job. For a homeowner with a suitable roof, a properly designed and certified rooftop system will generate a lot more power, earn export payments, and pay back in a way an 800W device simply cannot," says Dan Barnes, Director at Simple Solar.
Director · Simple Solar
Our view is that the two are not really competitors. Plug-in solar extends solar power to homes that could not have it before; rooftop solar remains the serious investment for those who can.