UK guide • DNO notification • G98 explained

Do Plug-in Solar Panels Need to Be Registered in the UK?

Usually, some form of notification still matters. For small systems, the key question is often whether the setup falls under G98 and who is responsible for notifying the local DNO. The difficulty is that plug-in solar still does not sit neatly inside the normal UK installation model.

Short answer

In most normal UK microgeneration cases under 3.68 kW per phase, the connection process is typically G98, which is usually a fit-and-notify route rather than prior approval. That means the DNO is normally told after commissioning, not before.

If you’re looking at the broader legal position as well, you may also want to read our guide on whether plug-in solar is fully legal in the UK.

The complication for plug-in solar is that the UK’s standard guidance still assumes a conventional installed generator, not a simple “plug it into a socket” product. So while the capacity threshold may look familiar, the overall compliance position can still be less straightforward than many buyers assume.

G98 limit

Up to 3.68 kW per phase

Small domestic generation is generally treated under G98 up to 16 A per phase, which corresponds to 3.68 kW on a single-phase supply.

Normal process

Usually notify after installation

For a single G98 microgenerator, the usual route is not advance approval. The DNO is typically notified after the system has been commissioned.

Who usually submits

Normally the installer

Standard G98 guidance assumes the installer provides the technical details and signed declaration that the equipment has been installed in accordance with the rules.

Even systems sold as “plug-in” still interact with your home’s electrical installation. If you're unsure what that means in practice, read: can you plug solar panels into a normal socket in the UK?

Plug-in solar

Still a moving area

Government is pushing to open the market, but that does not mean every current kit online should be treated as compliant or ready for UK use.

What “registration” usually means in practice

In everyday language, people often say a solar system needs to be “registered”. In UK electricity-network terms, that usually means the local Distribution Network Operator needs to be given details of the generation connected at the property.

This is not just paperwork for the sake of it. The DNO is responsible for the local electricity network, and small generators still need to fit within the connection rules that apply to low-voltage systems.

For ordinary domestic rooftop solar, that process is well understood. For plug-in solar, the problem is not that the idea of notifying the DNO disappears. The problem is that the connection method itself is not yet as settled in UK practice as many product listings make it sound.

The key threshold: G98 and 3.68 kW

The main threshold most homeowners hear about is 16 A per phase, which corresponds to 3.68 kW on a single-phase supply. That is the familiar G98 limit for smaller microgeneration.

Practical translation: if the total registered capacity of the microgeneration at the property is within that limit, the connection route is often G98 rather than G99.

That threshold matters because once you move above it, the process changes and the DNO generally needs to be involved before installation under the G99 route.

It also matters because buyers sometimes focus only on the panel wattage on the box. In reality, what counts is the broader generation setup and how it is being connected.

Is G98 usually “fit and notify”?

For a single-premises G98 installation, the normal position is broadly yes. The usual process is that the equipment is commissioned first and the DNO is then notified within the required timescale afterwards.

That is why people often describe G98 as a fit-and-notify process.

That said, “fit-and-notify” should not be misunderstood as “do anything you like”. It still assumes the equipment is suitable, compliant, and properly installed in a way that meets the relevant standards.

Who normally submits the G98 form?

In normal UK guidance, the answer is straightforward: usually the installer.

The standard industry guidance for G98 single-premises connections says the installer should inform the DNO and provide the installation details after commissioning. The installation document also expects technical information, installer details, and a signed declaration that the generating unit complies with G98.

In other words, the ordinary G98 route is not really written as a casual consumer self-certification process.

That is important for this topic because plug-in solar is often marketed as if no installer involvement is needed at all. UK network guidance does not really read that way.

Can a homeowner fill in a G98 form themselves?

This is where the answer needs to be careful.

A homeowner can often provide customer details, site information, and some of the practical information that appears on a G98 form. Some DNO-facing forms also include customer sections and signatures. So in that limited sense, yes, a homeowner may be able to complete or submit parts of the process for a system under 3.68 kW.

But that should not be confused with the wider compliance position. The normal G98 documentation still expects technical information about the generating unit, installer details, and a signed compliance declaration from the installer. So a homeowner filling in a form does not remove the need for the installation itself to meet the relevant requirements.

Plain-English version: under 3.68 kW, a homeowner may be able to help with or even submit the paperwork depending on the DNO process, but the standard UK route still assumes a competent installation with proper technical and compliance information behind it.

For this reason, I would avoid telling people “just send the form yourself and that makes it fine”. That is too simplistic for the current UK position.

Why plug-in solar is still different

The UK framework around G98 was built around more conventional microgeneration connections operating in parallel with the low-voltage distribution network. Plug-in solar is different because the consumer-facing pitch is that it can be bought as a socket-connected product and used with minimal effort.

That creates the real tension in this market. The capacity may be small enough to sound like “normal G98”, but the connection method and compliance assumptions are not always as straightforward as standard rooftop solar.

This is one of the main reasons the site keeps a cautious tone on imported marketplace kits. A small inverter and a mains plug do not automatically create a clean UK compliance story.

Could the rule change once plug-in solar is formally legalised?

Yes, it could. In fact, this is one of the most important points to understand.

The UK government has now publicly said it wants plug-in solar available in shops within months, including via major retailers. That strongly suggests the market is moving toward a more defined UK route for these products.

If that happens, the practical process around notification, permitted equipment, product standards, and consumer responsibility may become clearer and potentially simpler than the current position.

But until those changes are fully in place, people should not assume that the future market position has already arrived today. At the moment, the safest reading is still:

Small generation may sit within familiar G98 capacity limits, but plug-in solar as a product category is still moving through a regulatory transition in the UK.

What this means in real-world terms

If you are looking at a plug-in solar kit now, the sensible questions are:

  • Is the equipment clearly intended for compliant UK use?
  • What technical information is available about the inverter and protection functions?
  • Who is taking responsibility for the installation and the DNO notification?
  • Is the total setup definitely within the relevant threshold?
  • Has anyone simply assumed that “low wattage” means “no rules apply”?

Those are better questions than simply asking whether the plug fits a socket.

Bottom line

For normal small-scale microgeneration, systems under 3.68 kW per phase are generally dealt with under G98, which usually means notifying the DNO after commissioning rather than getting prior permission.

A homeowner may be able to complete or submit some of that paperwork in practice, especially on smaller systems, but the standard UK process still assumes proper technical information and an installer compliance declaration.

That is why plug-in solar should still be treated cautiously in the UK. The capacity limit may look familiar, but the wider regulatory pathway is still evolving.

Keep reading

If you are weighing up a plug-in solar kit, these are the pages to read next before making any decision.

Read the legal guide Is it worth it? What to watch out for