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Manchester Balcony Solar
Check my balcony

Balcony solar rules in Great Britain

What changed in 2026, what a balcony kit has to meet, how the socket works and how to register. Each point is backed by a source at the bottom.

Checked 4 November 2026

What changed in 2026

  • 16 July 2026: the government published its response to the plug-in solar consultation, and version 2 of the Interim Product Specification that every plug-in kit must meet.
  • 11 August 2026: Ofgem approved a change to the grid connection rules (G98), so a household can notify the network about a plug-in kit itself.
  • 27 August 2026: the new rules came into force, along with changes to the planning rules for solar on homes in England, including flats.

What a balcony kit must meet

  • Its exact model is listed as Compliant on the Energy Networks Association's Type Test Register. Submitted or in progress doesn't count.
  • It sends no more than 800W (799VA) into your home. The panels can add up to more, because the microinverter caps the output.
  • It's used exactly as registered, brackets included. No swapped panels, inverter, cable or mount.
  • It isn't used with a battery.
  • One kit per household, registered before first use.

It also has to suit a balcony. Some makers say their kits aren't suitable for balconies, and those don't belong on one. If a kit has more than 960W of panels, the specification says you should consider a professional check of your electrics.

Sockets and cables

The kit plugs straight into a socket. On a balcony, that means a weatherproof outdoor socket within reach of the kit's own cable.

  • Extension leads, cable reels or adaptors
  • A cable trapped in a door or window
  • Cutting off or rewiring the plug

Your fuse box should have modern RCD protection. If you're not sure, an electrician can check it, and fit an outdoor socket if you need one. If you rent or own on a lease, a new socket needs permission too.

Registering your kit

Before you first use the kit, register it free at myplugin.solar. Ofgem's August 2026 decision lets a household notify the network about a plug-in kit itself.

In Greater Manchester the electricity network operator is Electricity North West, which has its own page on plug-in solar.

Two rules are under review: one kit per household, and no batteries. Either may change. The date at the top shows when we last checked.

Planning in England, Scotland and Wales

From 27 August 2026, most homes in England, flats included, can fit solar equipment without a planning application, within limits:

  • on flats, nothing sticking out more than 0.2m
  • nothing on timber walls or balconies
  • nothing on a street-facing wall in a conservation area
  • listed buildings are excluded

No plug-in-specific planning rules have been published for Scotland or Wales yet. Check with your council before you fix anything to the outside of a building.

Plug-in solar can be used in England, Scotland and Wales. It isn't permitted in Northern Ireland, and we don't deliver to the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands.

Sources and dates