UK explores plug-in battery regulations following plug-in solar launch

Plug-in solar is now legal in Great Britain, with August 27th marking the day of major regulation change for the solar industry. But battery storage, a valuable aspect of ‘balcony solar’ being used in Europe, missed out on the regulation change that allows 800 W solar kits to be installed in England, Wales and Scotland. The regulation change does not apply to households in Northern Ireland.

Battery regulations may follow, however, as the UK Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) has launched a tender for a safety and risk assessment for deploying 800 W AC mains output plug-in batteries.

The objective of a plug-in battery safety study would be to evaluate various plug-in, self-installed battery products already on the market worldwide, particularly in Germany, where they operate in accordance with strict regulations and technical standards set by the VDE (Verband der Elektrotechnik, Elektronik und Informationstechnik, or the Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies).

The UK’s own regulator would aim to assess safety risks and hazards, and conduct laboratory testing including around “reasonably foreseeable” misuse, and recommend technical and regulatory adaptations.

Jason Howlett, chief executive officer of the Energy Storage Association (ESA) told ESS News that the ESA has been in discussion with DESNZ for several months about the issue. Howlett said that while the ESA would “wholeheartedly support” the safe introduction of plug-in battery storage, more work is required on the regulation front.

Electricity regulations set high standards for battery installations in Great Britain, and guidance strongly favors outdoor installations and requires checks of wiring and consumer units. Howlett warned that plug-in battery products installed without checks on wiring and the impact on household circuits would not meet current standards.

The DESNZ tender for the plug-in batteries safety study forecasts an 18-month examination, with an estimated start date from early October 2026.  

Full details of the tender are available via the UK government’s Find a Tender portal. Interested parties have until Sept. 30 to submit their tender.