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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 EtchedPixels 3 days ago

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JamesPa

(@jamespa)

Illustrious Member Moderator

Joined: 4 years ago

Posts: 5541

Topic starter 11/10/2026 9:43 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 4 days 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)

Estimable Member Member

Joined: 5 months ago

Posts: 174

13/10/2026 12:57 am

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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