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Official sources for solar panel and plug-in solar rules

These are the pages every answer in our solar FAQs is based on. Go to them first if you need the definitive wording: we summarise, they decide.

Reviewed 21 September 2026 · fast-moving answers are re-checked against the official pages listed every week

Government, regulators and legislation

• GOV.UK: Households can save as plug-in solar panels come to marketUsed in: Plug-in (balcony) solar in Great Britain. Reviewed by hand.
• GOV.UK / DESNZ: Plug-in solar: regulatory amendment and interim product specificationUsed in: Plug-in (balcony) solar in Great Britain. Checked automatically weekly.
• DESNZ: Plug-in Solar Device Interim Product Specification, version 2.0 (PDF)Used in: Flat roofs, garages and garden solar (England), Germany and the EU, Insurance, mortgages and rent-a-roof, Listed buildings and conservation areas, Northern Ireland, Planning permission and building rules, Plug-in (balcony) solar in Great Britain, Renting, leasehold and flats. Reviewed by hand.
• Ofgem: decision to approve DCRP/MP/26/02, amendment to facilitate plug-in microgeneration (PDF)Used in: Rooftop solar, grid connection and VAT. Reviewed by hand.
• UK Plug-In Solar RegistrationUsed in: Plug-in (balcony) solar in Great Britain. Checked automatically weekly.
• Energy Networks Association: Connect Direct device register (plug-in solar)Used in: G98 and G99: connecting solar to the grid, Plug-in (balcony) solar in Great Britain, Renting, leasehold and flats. Reviewed by hand.
• Planning Portal (England): solar equipment mounted on a house, block of flats or buildingUsed in: Flat roofs, garages and garden solar (England), Listed buildings and conservation areas, Planning permission and building rules, Renting, leasehold and flats. Checked automatically weekly.
• Planning Portal (Wales): common projectsUsed in: Listed buildings and conservation areas, Planning permission and building rules. Reviewed by hand.
• GOV.WALES: planning permission for solar panelsUsed in: Flat roofs, garages and garden solar (England), Listed buildings and conservation areas, Planning permission and building rules. Checked automatically weekly.
• ePlanning ScotlandUsed in: Flat roofs, garages and garden solar (England), Planning permission and building rules. Reviewed by hand.
• GOV.UK: VAT on energy-saving materials and heating equipment (Notice 708/6)Used in: Home batteries and storage, Northern Ireland, Rooftop solar, grid connection and VAT. Checked automatically monthly.
• GOV.UK: The Value Added Tax (Installation of Energy-Saving Materials) Order 2023Used in: Northern Ireland, Rooftop solar, grid connection and VAT. Reviewed by hand.
• Ofgem: Smart Export Guarantee, guidance for generatorsUsed in: Export payments and the Smart Export Guarantee, Rooftop solar, grid connection and VAT. Checked automatically monthly.
• NIE Networks (Northern Ireland electricity network), homepageUsed in: Export payments and the Smart Export Guarantee, Northern Ireland. Reviewed by hand.
• nidirect (Northern Ireland government services), homepageUsed in: Northern Ireland. Reviewed by hand.
• Marktstammdatenregister (Bundesnetzagentur): register of energy installations, GermanyUsed in: Germany and the EU. Reviewed by hand.
• Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch § 554 (German Civil Code, alterations for accessibility, EV charging and plug-in solar)Used in: Germany and the EU, Renting, leasehold and flats. Reviewed by hand.
• EUR-Lex: Directive (EU) 2023/2413 (Renewable Energy Directive, RED III)Used in: Germany and the EU. Reviewed by hand.
• Planning Portal (England): stand-alone solar equipment in the grounds of a house or block of flatsUsed in: Flat roofs, garages and garden solar (England). Checked automatically weekly.
• Historic England: Energy Efficiency and Historic Buildings, Solar Electric (Photovoltaics)Used in: Listed buildings and conservation areas. Checked automatically monthly.
• Camden Council: solar PV panel guidance (PDF)Used in: Listed buildings and conservation areas. Reviewed by hand.
• West Suffolk Council: solar photovoltaics and planning in conservation areas (PDF)Used in: Listed buildings and conservation areas. Reviewed by hand.
• East Suffolk Council: solar PV and building regulations in conservation areasUsed in: Listed buildings and conservation areas. Reviewed by hand.
• National Grid Electricity Distribution: G99 connection proceduresUsed in: G98 and G99: connecting solar to the grid. Checked automatically monthly.
• National Grid Electricity Distribution: G99 Form A1-2 for integrated micro-generation and storage (PDF)Used in: G98 and G99: connecting solar to the grid. Reviewed by hand.
• Electricity North West: G98 and G99 application guide (2021 slides, PDF)Used in: G98 and G99: connecting solar to the grid. Reviewed by hand.
• Commission for Regulation of Utilities (Ireland): microgenerationUsed in: Ireland. Checked automatically weekly.
• ESB Networks (Ireland): what is micro-generationUsed in: Ireland. Checked automatically monthly.

Independent advice bodies

• Energy Saving Trust: Plug-in solar panelsUsed in: Export payments and the Smart Export Guarantee, Northern Ireland, Plug-in (balcony) solar in Great Britain, Rooftop solar, grid connection and VAT. Checked automatically weekly.
• Energy Saving Trust: Plug-in solar panels, checks to make before you buyUsed in: Flat roofs, garages and garden solar (England), Home batteries and storage, Insurance, mortgages and rent-a-roof, Northern Ireland, Planning permission and building rules, Plug-in (balcony) solar in Great Britain, Renting, leasehold and flats. Checked automatically weekly.
• Citizens Advice: six things to know before plug-in solar panels hit the shelvesUsed in: Export payments and the Smart Export Guarantee, Plug-in (balcony) solar in Great Britain, Renting, leasehold and flats. Reviewed by hand.

Industry bodies

• MCS: notifying distribution network operators (G98 and G99)Used in: G98 and G99: connecting solar to the grid, Home batteries and storage, Planning permission and building rules, Plug-in (balcony) solar in Great Britain, Rooftop solar, grid connection and VAT. Checked automatically monthly.
• UK Finance / BSA: template lender consent letter for solar PV roof-space leases (PDF)Used in: Insurance, mortgages and rent-a-roof. Reviewed by hand.

Other reputable sources (secondary)

• ImmoScout24: balcony solar and tenants' rights (German)Used in: Germany and the EU. Reviewed by hand.
• EnBW: how to register a balcony solar system (German)Used in: Germany and the EU. Reviewed by hand.
• Construction Index: Solar panels and heat pumps OK on listed buildings, says Historic England (14 Nov 2023)Used in: Listed buildings and conservation areas. Reviewed by hand.
• Homebuilding & Renovating: can you install solar panels on listed buildings?Used in: Listed buildings and conservation areas. Reviewed by hand.
• LV=: solar panels and home insuranceUsed in: Insurance, mortgages and rent-a-roof. Reviewed by hand.
• Charcol: solar panels and mortgage lendersUsed in: Insurance, mortgages and rent-a-roof. Reviewed by hand.
• Irwin Mitchell: solar panels in residential transactions, legal must-knowsUsed in: Insurance, mortgages and rent-a-roof. Reviewed by hand.
• The Irish Times: rules for plug-in solar panels being finalised, but not before end of summer (15 July 2026)Used in: Ireland. Reviewed by hand.

Not sure which applies to you? See how we check and update answers, or ask in the app.

Reviewed 2026-09-21. General information, not legal, electrical or financial advice.