BATTERY USE · CHECKED 26 SEPTEMBER 2026
Are Plug-In Batteries Legal in the UK?
Yes, you can charge a suitable battery and use it to power appliances through its own socket. That is not the same as feeding stored energy into your home wiring through a plug, which is not yet approved. We expect a decision in 2027.
Use now
Charge from the mains and power suitable appliances from the battery’s own outlet.
Install professionally
Use an approved model as a household battery after survey and qualified installation.
Do not assume
The solar-only rules do not approve self-installed battery feedback into home wiring.
What you can do today
Charge the battery during a cheaper tariff window, then connect selected devices to the battery’s built-in AC outlet. This treats the product as a power station. The stored energy reaches the connected appliance directly; it does not flow into the fixed circuits around your home.
This works best with useful, reasonably steady loads. A fridge/freezer, broadband router, computer setup, aquarium pump or heating controls may be suitable. Check the label or manual for normal running power and start-up surge before connecting anything.
Running watts and surge watts
Running watts are what an appliance normally uses. Motors and compressors can need a short burst of extra power when they start. Both figures must fit inside the battery outlet’s rating. A battery that runs a fridge is not automatically powerful enough to run the whole heat pump.
What you cannot assume
Do not plug a battery in and assume it may discharge into the ring circuit simply because it has an AC cable, an 800 W setting or overseas certification. The UK’s 2026 plug-in solar route is for solar-only products. Solar generation and battery storage are different product categories.
Always use the connection method in the manufacturer instructions. Never use an extension lead or improvised changeover arrangement, and never create a cable that could leave exposed pins live.
Professional installation is a different route
Some battery models can be configured as conventional hardwired home batteries. A qualified installer connects the supported model to your consumer unit, checks protection and cable sizing, and follows the relevant DNO process. The battery can then follow normal household demand at the output verified for that model and installation.
Professional installation does not automatically mean whole-home backup. Backup during a power cut needs a battery with islanding capability and, often, separate switching equipment. We confirm this during survey rather than inferring it from a headline output number. Read how our professional-install route works.
What do G98 and G99 mean?
Your Distribution Network Operator manages the local electricity network. G98 and G99 are connection processes for equipment that can generate or export power. The exact route depends on the product and configuration. For a hardwired battery, the installer should confirm and handle this with you.
What “future-ready” really means
A product may contain hardware intended for a future connection mode. That does not guarantee that regulators will permit it, that the model will receive the necessary certification, or that a software update will be enough. We use “future-ready” only for a documented hardware capability and keep the future legal position qualified.
How to choose the right route
Direct appliance use
Best when you have identifiable loads near the battery and want a simple, portable setup.
Professionally installed
Best when you want stored energy available across household circuits and the model qualifies.
Frequently asked questions
Can I charge a plug-in battery from a wall socket?
Yes, when the product is designed for mains charging and you follow its instructions. This is different from making the battery feed power back into your household wiring.
What can I power today?
Suitable appliances connected to the battery’s own output socket, within that model’s continuous and start-up surge ratings. Common examples include a fridge/freezer, router or home-office equipment.
Can a professional installer connect it to my home?
Potentially. The exact model must support a hardwired configuration, and a qualified installer must confirm the property, connection process and output available before installation.
Does the 2026 plug-in solar change include batteries?
No. It created a solar-only route. It does not automatically approve battery discharge into household wiring through a plug.
Choose by use, not just capacity
Compare appliance output, supported connection modes and storage capacity before you buy.