Plug-and-play batteries UK guide (2026)
Plug-and-play batteries are now legal in the UK as of the BS 7671:2018 Amendment 4 wiring regulations update in 2026. Anyone - including renters - can now plug a battery into a standard 3-pin socket and use it to slash electricity bills by purchasing cheap off-peak power and discharging during peak hours.
This guide covers every plug-and-play battery currently available or launching soon in the UK, with verified prices, capacities, and estimated savings.
What is a plug-and-play battery?
A plug-and-play battery is a self-contained battery storage unit that connects to your home's electricity supply via a standard 3-pin socket - no electrician required. It charges itself from cheap off-peak electricity (typically 6-12p/kWh on tariffs like Octopus Go, Octopus Intelligent Go, EDF GoElectric, or British Gas Electric Driver), then discharges back into the home circuit during peak hours when electricity costs 30-40p/kWh.
The price differential is the saving. A 2.5 kWh battery cycled once daily saves a UK household roughly £125-£228/year on average tariffs in 2026. Larger systems (multiple stacked batteries) scale linearly.
The new UK regulations (2026)
UK wiring regulations BS 7671:2018 Amendment 4 (effective 2026) made plug-in mains battery storage legal for the first time. The key safety rules:
- 800W maximum per plug-in device (thermal safety limit on internal home wiring)
- 0.1 second auto-disconnect required if the unit is unplugged or grid power fails (prevents live pins on the plug)
- BS 7671 Amendment 4 certification mark required on the product
- SMETS2 smart meter required for half-hourly tariff settlement
- Online network registration (no longer requires Distribution Network Operator approval - simple form via your DNO's website)
A BSI product standard is also expected later in 2026, which will tighten certification but not change the core rules.
All UK plug-and-play batteries (2026)
Top 3 picks for 2026
1. Best value: Fox ESS MiniQube (£500)
- 2.6 kWh, stackable up to 4 units (10.4 kWh max)
- Smart-meter and WiFi built into the June 2026 release
- Best price-per-kWh on the UK market
- 3-4 year payback at typical Octopus Go usage
2. Best design: Windfall Energy (£1,000)
- 2.5 kWh, designer aesthetic - flat top doubles as a side-table
- Octopus Intelligent Go optimised
- Premium price for the visual integration
- Suits living-room placement where appearance matters
3. Best portable: Anker SOLIX C1000 X (£800)
- 1.056 kWh, fully portable (UPS function)
- Better-suited to camping / mobile use than residential storage
- Doubles as a backup power source during blackouts
How much will you save?
Using a typical Octopus Go tariff (off-peak 6-8p, peak 30-40p) and the lowest-priced 2.6 kWh Fox ESS MiniQube:
| Use case | Annual saving | Payback |
|---|
| Single-person flat, low usage | £80-£125 | 4-6 years |
| Family home, average usage | £180-£280 | 2-3 years |
| Heavy-use household + EV charging avoidance | £300-£500 | 1-2 years |
Compounding savings: as electricity prices rise (and they have, every year for the past decade), the saving grows. By Year 5 of ownership, total saved is typically £700-£1,500 vs the £500 purchase price.
Where to buy
- Manufacturer direct - Fox ESS, Windfall Energy, Anker, EcoFlow, Bluetti all sell direct
- Amazon UK - typically the cheapest source for Anker, EcoFlow, Bluetti
- Currys / John Lewis - stocking expected from June 2026 for Fox ESS and possibly Windfall
- Octopus Energy partner channel - rumoured Fox ESS partnership for Octopus customers
- Specialist installers - companies like Capture Energy will offer bundled tariff + battery deals later in 2026
Combine with the right tariff for max savings
Best UK tariffs to pair with a plug-and-play battery:
Related guides
Sources
- BS 7671:2018 Amendment 4 (UK wiring regulations)
- Ofgem Time-of-Use Tariff Database
- Octopus Energy / British Gas / EDF / OVO published tariff pages
- The Sunday Times energy reporting (May 2026)
- Manufacturer specifications (Fox ESS, Windfall Energy, Anker, EcoFlow, Bluetti, Givenergy)
- Capture Energy savings modelling
