DIY plug-in solar
Plug it in, no consumer unit, no MCS paperwork.
A panel and inverter that connects via a normal wall socket rather than being wired into your fuseboard. The practical entry point for renters, flat-dwellers and anyone without roof access or the budget for a full install. From £499.
What's included
Panel(s), micro-inverter, mounting hardware for whatever you're fixing to (fence, balcony rail, garden frame), and the cabling run to your nearest socket. Every kit we fit is one of the confirmed compliant models, currently seven on the market, all made by UKSOL, and stays within the 800VA-per-property legal cap.
DNO registration
Since 27 August 2026 plug-in solar is legal, but registering it isn't optional: it's a 28-day legal duty to UK Power Networks Southern, via myplugin.solar or direct. We take care of that filing so it's not left to you.
Where it works
South or west-facing balconies and fences across Deal, Walmer and Kingsdown, including flats and rented properties where a rooftop install isn't an option. No listed building consent needed since nothing attaches to the building's roof or walls in most cases, though we check your specific property before quoting.
Current legal status
What changed on 27 August 2026
Legal, with conditions
An amendment to the 1994 Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations made plug-in solar legal UK-wide from 27 August 2026, capped at 800VA. That cap applies per property, not per socket, so a second kit isn't a legal workaround for more capacity.
Only approved kits
As of early September 2026, seven kits are confirmed compliant, all from UKSOL. Cheaper non-approved kits are sold online but fall outside the legal framework and risk your home insurance, we don't fit them.
SEG payments not available yet
Export income through the Smart Export Guarantee needs MCS certification, and plug-in kits can't get it. A simplified SEG route is expected around 2027, so plan on the panels paying you back through savings, not export payments, for now.
Be realistic
What plug-in solar won't do
It won't power a whole house, it offsets daytime baseline consumption, kettle, fridge, standby devices, on a sunny day. If you rent or lease, there's no automatic right to install: written permission from your landlord, freeholder or managing agent comes first. Want export income, whole-home battery backup or EV charger integration? That's the MCS route.
FAQs
Do I need planning permission for a plug-in kit?
Usually no if it's fence, balcony rail or freestanding garden-mounted and doesn't attach to the building's roof or a wall fronting the highway. If your property is in a conservation area (Middle Street, Upper Deal, South Barracks, Nelson Street, Upper Walmer or Kingsdown) or listed, tell us before you buy and we'll confirm.
Can I add a battery to a plug-in setup?
Not off the shelf. Connecting a battery to a plug-in kit needs a qualified electrician to sign off the work, that's a firm requirement under the current rules, and a simplified DIY route for battery pairing isn't expected until 2027.
How long does installation take?
Most plug-in installs are a half-day job: mounting, cabling and the socket connection. We register it with the DNO within the 28-day legal window afterwards.
Does it matter which plug-in kit I buy?
Yes. Only kits tested against the government's plug-in solar product specification count as legal, currently seven products, all from UKSOL, as of early September 2026. An uncertified kit bought to save money puts the whole installation outside the law and can void your home insurance.