Plug-in solar is now legal in the UK — what studios need to know

From today, 27 August 2026, plug-in solar panels are legal to buy and use across Great Britain. Plug one into an ordinary socket and it feeds power into your building — no electrician, no installation cost. The government reckons a household could save up to £110 a year. For anyone running a studio, the sums are more interesting than that, because a studio’s electricity demand peaks in daylight. Here is what the law says, what the kit can actually do, and the one thing you must check before buying. What has changed The change comes through SI 2026 No. 848, in force today, alongside SI 2026/896 covering permitted development in England. Together they create a new route: a certified plug-in solar device may be connected to a domestic socket circuit by the householder. It builds on BS 7671 Amendment 4, in force since April, which finally gave the wiring regulations...