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, micro-inverter, fence, balcony or garden-frame mounting depending on your setup, and cabling to the nearest socket. We only fit a confirmed compliant kit, one of seven UKSOL models currently on the market, kept under the 800VA-per-property legal cap.
DNO registration
Plug-in solar has been legal since 27 August 2026, and part of that legality is a 28-day registration duty to UK Power Networks Southern, done via myplugin.solar or directly. We file it on your behalf so nothing gets missed.
Where it works
South or west-facing balconies and fences across Herne Bay, Beltinge and Greenhill, 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
Legalised, capped at 800VA
An amendment to the 1994 Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations made plug-in solar legal UK-wide from 27 August 2026. The 800VA limit is per property, so a second kit isn't a way round the cap.
Stick to approved kits
Only seven kits are confirmed compliant as of early September 2026, all made by UKSOL. Cheaper unapproved kits are out there but sit outside the legal framework and can invalidate your home insurance, we don't fit them.
Export payments still years off
The Smart Export Guarantee requires MCS certification, and plug-in kits aren't eligible for it. A simplified SEG route for plug-in systems is expected around 2027, so don't plan finances around export income yet.
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. Renting or leasehold? There's no automatic right to install, get written permission from your landlord, freeholder or managing agent first. Want export income, whole-home battery backup or an EV charger tied in? 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 the Herne Bay Conservation Area, or one of its 41 listed buildings, tell us before you buy and we'll confirm.
Can I add a battery to a plug-in setup?
Not as a simple add-on. Under the current rules, connecting a battery to a plug-in kit requires a qualified electrician to sign off the work, and a simplified DIY battery route isn't expected before 2027.
How long does installation take?
Most plug-in installs are a half-day job: mounting, cabling and the socket connection. We handle the 28-day DNO registration once it's done.
Can I fit any plug-in solar kit I find online?
No, it has to be a confirmed compliant kit tested against the government's plug-in solar product specification. As of early September 2026 that's seven UKSOL products. Fitting an uncertified kit takes you outside the legal framework and can void your home insurance.