The Electrical Safety First charity and the Association of Electrical Contractors (ECA) have jointly called for an immediate pause on the sale of plug-in solar panels. Their concern: substandard connectors and DIY wiring that can overheat and ignite. For the 200,000 UK households that have bought these kits since 2020, the warning is stark.
As reported by Construction News, the Electrical Contractors’ Association and Electrical Safety First have written to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero urging a moratorium on these products until a mandatory safety standard is introduced. The groups cite multiple fire incidents in UK homes linked to poor-quality MC4 connectors and inverters that lack proper earthing.
Who qualifies, and who doesn’t
Plug-in solar panels, typically rated at 350W to 800W, connect directly to a household socket via a microinverter. They are marketed as a £400–£800 DIY alternative to a full rooftop array. But the safety bodies argue that the plug-and-socket interface was never designed for continuous power export, and that the MC4 connectors on cheaper imports fail under thermal stress.
The ECA estimates that up to 70% of plug-in solar kits sold online in the UK do not carry a recognised safety certification such as G98 or G99. Without these, the installation is technically illegal under the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002, though enforcement is virtually non-existent.
What it costs a typical 3-bed semi
A single 350W panel can offset about 250–300 kWh per year in a south-facing home, roughly £70–£100 off an annual electricity bill at the current price cap of 24.5p per kWh. But the savings come with a caveat: if the microinverter fails or the connector arcs, the repair cost can easily exceed £500, and a fire could leave a home uninhabitable.
Homeowners who have already installed a plug-in kit should check the manufacturer’s certification. If the product lacks a G98 or G99 mark, the ECA recommends disconnecting it and contacting the supplier. Many online sellers operate from outside the UK, making refunds or recalls difficult.
The catch: no mandatory standard
Yet the call for a pause exposes a wider gap in UK regulation. The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is voluntary for plug-in panels, unlike full rooftop solar which requires MCS certification for Feed-in Tariff eligibility. The result is a Wild West market where a £300 kit from an unknown brand can sit next to a £700 certified unit on the same retail shelf.
But a moratorium would also hit legitimate suppliers. B&Q and Screwfix sell certified plug-in kits from brands like Renusol and Sunsynk, which meet G98 requirements. A blanket pause would penalise responsible retailers while doing little to stop unregulated imports sold directly via social media.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has not yet responded to the letter. Ofgem told Electrical Safety First it is ‘monitoring the situation’ but has not committed to a review. Meanwhile, the number of plug-in solar installations continues to rise, up 40% year on year, according to industry estimates.
What UK homeowners should do now
If you are considering a plug-in solar kit, buy only from a UK-based supplier that provides a G98 or G99 certificate. Ask for the installer’s NICEIC or NAPIT registration if you choose professional fitting. The extra £100–£200 for certified kit and installation is a fraction of the potential fire damage cost.
If you already own a plug-in panel, check the label for ‘G98’ or ‘G99’. If it is absent, photograph the unit and the socket connection, then contact the seller. The ECA recommends unplugging the system until the supplier confirms compliance. Householders on standard variable tariffs can also check their home insurance policy, many exclude claims from non-certified electrical equipment.
For those who want solar without the fire risk, a full rooftop array with MCS certification remains the safest route. A 3.5 kW system costs £5,000–£7,000 installed and saves £400–£600 a year, with a payback period of 10–15 years. The Energy Saving Trust provides a free online tool to estimate your home’s suitability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plug-in solar panels are not illegal per se, but they must comply with the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002. Any kit without G98 or G99 certification is technically non-compliant, though enforcement is rare. The Electrical Contractors' Association and Electrical Safety First have called for a moratorium on sales until a mandatory standard is introduced.
Yes, but only if the installation is MCS-certified. Most plug-in kits under 800W are not MCS-certified, so they are ineligible for the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) payments. A certified full rooftop system is required to receive export payments from suppliers like Octopus or EDF.
