Author

Rob Griffiths.

17 pieces by Rob Griffiths · most recent first

UK Solar Panel Output by Month: Real PVGIS Data

Portable & Garden Solar

UK Solar Panel Output by Month: Real PVGIS Data

What an 800W plug-in solar setup generates each month in London, Birmingham and Glasgow, from PVGIS data - and how deep the December trough goes.
11 September 2026
Can You Add a Battery to Plug-In Solar in the UK?

Batteries & Storage

Can You Add a Battery to Plug-In Solar in the UK?

Plug-in solar batteries are not yet legal for UK socket use - the 2026 spec covers panels only. What you can do today, and what needs an installer.
11 September 2026
Which Plug-In Solar Kits Are Certified in the UK?

Rules, Grants & Savings

Which Plug-In Solar Kits Are Certified in the UK?

Plug-in solar is now legal in the UK and certified kits are on the ENA register. What certification means, what the register shows, how to check it.
15 August 2026
Plug-in Solar and Your Landlord: Getting Permission

Rules, Grants & Savings

Plug-in Solar and Your Landlord: Getting Permission

The 2026 rule change makes plug-in solar legal, not permitted. How to ask your landlord, what tenancy agreements say, and what to do if the answer is no.
8 August 2026
Plug-in Solar Terms Explained: G98, SEG, MCS and More

Rules, Grants & Savings

Plug-in Solar Terms Explained: G98, SEG, MCS and More

What SI 2026/848, the Interim Product Specification, G98, G99, DNO, SEG, MCS, kWp and self-consumption actually mean for a UK plug-in solar kit.
8 August 2026
Are There Grants for Plug-in Solar in the UK?

Rules, Grants & Savings

Are There Grants for Plug-in Solar in the UK?

Are there grants for plug-in solar in the UK? No scheme funds it - what ECO4, GBIS and the solar VAT relief really cover, and why plug-in misses out.
7 August 2026
Balcony Solar: What the UK Can Learn From Germany

Plug-In Solar Kits

Balcony Solar: What the UK Can Learn From Germany

Germany has 1.3 million+ balcony solar systems. Here is what drove the boom, and what the UK can learn before plug-in solar goes legal on 27 August 2026.
28 July 2026
Portable & Garden Solar: A UK Beginner's Guide

Portable & Garden Solar

Portable & Garden Solar: A UK Beginner's Guide

Portable and garden solar explained for UK beginners: what it is, uses for the garden, shed and camping, how it differs from plug-in solar, and the rules.
28 July 2026
Solar Battery Storage Explained for UK Homes

Batteries & Storage

Solar Battery Storage Explained for UK Homes

How home solar battery storage works in the UK: AC vs DC coupling, sizing in kWh, round-trip efficiency, 0% VAT, SEG export, and payback realities.
28 July 2026
Plug-in Solar Safety: RCDs, Sockets and UK Wiring

Plug-In Solar Kits

Plug-in Solar Safety: RCDs, Sockets and UK Wiring

Is plug-in solar safe? How UK certification, RCD-protected sockets and the no-extension-lead rule keep it safe - plus where you must not mount it.
26 July 2026
Do You Need Planning Permission for Plug-in Solar?

Rules, Grants & Savings

Do You Need Planning Permission for Plug-in Solar?

Plug-in solar sits inside permitted development since 27 August 2026. The limits, the exclusions, DNO notification and why wood fails both rulebooks.
26 July 2026
Plug-in Solar Savings: How Much Can You Save in the UK?

Rules, Grants & Savings

Plug-in Solar Savings: How Much Can You Save in the UK?

How much can plug-in solar save on UK energy bills? Work out generation, self-consumption and your unit rate - and why payback is still unknown.
26 July 2026
Plug-in Solar in the UK: The Complete 2026 Guide

Plug-In Solar Kits

Plug-in Solar in the UK: The Complete 2026 Guide

Plug-in solar becomes legal in the UK on 27 August 2026. What is allowed, the 800W limit, certified kits, safety rules, and how to notify your DNO.
26 July 2026
Plug-in Solar for Renters and Flats: What You Can Do

Plug-In Solar Kits

Plug-in Solar for Renters and Flats: What You Can Do

Plug-in solar suits renters and flats: no rooftop install, no drilling, and you take it when you move. Here is what you can and can't do in the UK.
25 July 2026
UK Plug-in Solar 2026: What Changed on 27 August?

Rules, Grants & Savings

UK Plug-in Solar 2026: What Changed on 27 August?

Two instruments commenced on 27 August 2026: SI 2026/848 made plug-in solar legal, SI 2026/896 brought it inside planning permitted development.
25 July 2026
How Does Plug-In Solar Work? Microinverters & Sockets

Plug-In Solar Kits

How Does Plug-In Solar Work? Microinverters & Sockets

Plug-in solar turns sunlight into mains power via a microinverter and a standard plug. Here is how the panels, inverter and 800W limit actually work.
24 July 2026
Is Plug-In Solar Legal in the UK? The 2026 Rules Explained

Rules, Grants & Savings

Is Plug-In Solar Legal in the UK? The 2026 Rules Explained

Plug-in solar became legal in the UK on 27 August 2026 under SI 2026/848. Here is what the 800W rules, certification and G98 notification mean.
24 July 2026