BSI product certification for plug-in solar systems is expected to publish in July 2026. Once that happens, UK retailers and Amazon UK will be cleared to stock certified over-the-counter kits. The German brands on this page — MARSTEK, SUNSHARE and Solarway — are the most likely to announce UK availability first.

Sign up to our notification list at the bottom of the plug-in solar guide page and we will email you the moment certified UK systems go on sale.

The wiring regulations framework was formally published on 15 April 2026 under BS 7671 Amendment 4. The BSI product safety standard that allows retailers to sell certified systems is expected to publish in July 2026. Full G98 grid framework enforcement follows on 2 October 2026.

July 2026 is the expected date for the first certified systems to go on sale. It is not a parliamentary vote — it is a standards publication — so it will not be delayed by political timescales. The framework is already in place.

For the EcoFlow STREAM systems on this page — which work as off-grid systems right now — you can be generating and storing solar power the same day the unit arrives. Unbox, connect panels to the unit, place panels in a sunny spot and plug your appliances in. No tools, no permissions, no electrician.

For plug-in grid-tie use — where the unit feeds power back through a wall socket — you need to wait until July 2026 when BSI certification arrives. At that point the same unit becomes a fully legal grid-tie system with no hardware changes needed.

No. Plug-in solar systems are charged at the standard 20% UK VAT rate. The 0% VAT incentive only applies to fixed, permanently installed rooftop solar systems that are hard-wired into your consumer unit by an MCS-certified electrician.

Because plug-in kits connect via a standard 13A plug, HMRC classifies them as standalone consumer appliances rather than permanent building materials. The 20% VAT is already included in the prices shown on this page.

Yes — with one important distinction. The German kits on this page can be used legally in the UK right now for off-grid use — generating solar power and storing it in a battery, with appliances plugged directly into the unit. That requires no permissions and no electrician.

What they cannot do yet is plug into your home mains socket for grid-tie use. That step becomes legal in July 2026 when UK BSI certification publishes. The German VDE certification these units carry is expected to qualify automatically at that point.

Since Brexit, orders from Amazon.de to a UK address may attract import VAT and customs charges. Amazon Germany typically handles VAT collection at checkout for orders under £135 — you pay it upfront and there are no additional charges on delivery. For orders above £135 additional import duties may apply.

Warranty support for German products is generally handled by the manufacturer rather than Amazon. MARSTEK, SUNSHARE and Solarway all have European support operations. Check the manufacturer website directly for UK warranty terms before ordering.

For off-grid systems — which is everything available to buy legally in the UK right now — no notification is required. The system does not connect to your mains and has no interaction with the grid.

For plug-in grid-tie systems from July 2026, the G98 Connect and Notify process applies for systems up to 800W. This is a simple online registration with your Distribution Network Operator — not a permission request. Full G98 enforcement comes into effect on 2 October 2026. Your energy supplier does not need to be notified for systems under 800W.

No — and any site that tells you otherwise is overselling it. A plug-in solar system offsets your electricity bill, it does not eliminate it. A well-positioned 800W system in the UK can realistically save £180 to £240 per year depending on your tariff rate, location and daytime usage patterns.

The systems work best when you have consistent daytime energy use — a home office, fridge-freezer running constantly, or a battery that stores surplus for evening use. For a full breakdown of realistic savings at different system sizes, use the savings calculator on our plug-in solar guide page.