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Safety study for plug in batteries out to tender - looks like Q3 2027 at best before legal

 
Energy Storage
Last Post by dansus 2 weeks ago
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JamesPa
 JamesPa
(@jamespa)
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Topic starter 11/10/2026 8:43 pm   [#3190]

Whilst searching for other information I came across this invitation to tender for a safety study of plug in batteries.  This appears to parallel what the government did for plug in solar.  Its an 18 month contract starting 25th Nov 2026 earliest, in two phases

The first phase, which concludes with recommended technical and regulatory adaptations to permit legal, safe use of plug-in batteries, is scheduled to run for 8 months.  

There is a second phase the outcome of which is "Recommend technical and regulatory adaptations to enhance the safety of indoor installations of domestic batteries."  This appears to relate primarily to electrician installed systems and runs until March 2028.

Assuming that plug in can be legalised after the first phase and the contract starts 25th November, so that takes us to June 2027 for this phase to complete.  When the same exercise was done for plug in solar it then took 2 further months to develop the technical standard/product specification.  This was against a background of a public ministerial commitment to an accelerated timescale, its quite plausible therefore that it will take longer for the 'battery' spec to be developed, consulted on, published and legislated for.

Thus I think this tells us that plug in batteries will not become legal until Q3, p2027, possibly even Q4 2027.

If anyone has a more optimistic interpretation I would be delighted to hear!  


This topic was modified 3 weeks ago 2 times by JamesPa

4kW peak of solar PV since 2011; EV and a 1930s house which has been partially renovated to improve its efficiency. 7kW Vaillant heat pump.


   
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 EtchedPixels
(@etchedpixels)
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Joined: 5 months ago
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12/10/2026 11:57 pm  

I think it may depend how much of the world is on fire and the gas price.

Certainly a company could bid on the contract on the basis they could do all the work faster.

In terms of "electrician installed" there is no difference. A battery plugged into a wall socket, even a non grid tie one should be located in accordance with BS7671 amendment 4 if it is effectively being used as a fixed install.

Part P 2.8:

"Installing fixed electrical equipment is within the scope of Part P, even if the final connection is by
a standard 13A plug and socket, but is notifiable only if it involves work set out in regulation 12(6A)."

and this may matter for insurance purposes even if the council are not going to send an enforcement notice if they see a picture of one in your bedroom on facebook.



   
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 dansus
(@dansus)
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20/10/2026 11:55 pm  

Posted by: @jamespa
↑

The first phase, which concludes with recommended technical and regulatory adaptations to permit legal, safe use of plug-in batteries, is scheduled to run for 8 months. 

Maybe this is why Octopus and Fuse are hell bent on plug-in batteries being available next year.

 


This post was modified 2 weeks ago 2 times by dansus

   
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Mars
 Mars
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21/10/2026 8:09 am  

I recently saw posts and ads from FUSE and they were insanely vague about their battery offering to the point I think I’ve already lost faith them in them as a brand. 


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Mars
 Mars
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21/10/2026 12:28 pm  

I found the post from FUSE, and here's what they said:

Introducing Jules by Fuse Energy: The UK’s first plug-in solar and battery system.

Until now, millions of British households have been shut out of Britain’s cheapest energy source, solar. Traditional solar installation costs more than £7000, and flat owners and renters are excluded, creating an unacceptable two-tier energy system of privilege.

Jules was designed to challenge this inequality. The unit includes up to four solar panels (500W each) which connect to a standard socket. The solar panels can be mounted on a balcony, wall, or in a garden without an engineer.
Jules will decide when to store and when to use solar power, using live prices, solar forecasts, and household usage. On cloudy days, Jules charges from the grid when electricity is cheapest.

The unit is available from £199, and offers savings of up to £330 per year.

The UK government must fulfil their commitment to legalise plug-in batteries, so British households can take control of their energy bills.

The two tier energy system must come to an end now.
Reserve Jules by Fuse Energy today.


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Mars
 Mars
(@editor)
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21/10/2026 2:02 pm  

Latest episode has just dropped minutes ago with John Southern, Operations and Strategy Director at the Energy Storage Association UK.  


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New to heat pumps?
Take the Heat Pump Fundamentals course and use INTRO50 at checkout for 50% off.


   
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 dansus
(@dansus)
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Posts: 20
21/10/2026 2:05 pm  

@editor I pointed out to the one of the Fuse execs that plug in batteries are not legal, and wont be for a while. 

The response? "We are working very closely with UK gov to legalise it!" lol..

 


This post was modified 2 weeks ago by dansus

   
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