Plug-in PV is making solar accessible to households that have traditionally had limited access to rooftop systems, including apartment residents, tenants and urban households. Combined with compact battery storage, these systems can offer a relatively simple way for more consumers to generate and use their own solar electricity.
But as the market develops, so do the questions around electrical and fire safety, product quality, certification, installation and consumer protection. And the answers vary considerably between countries.
To compare these approaches and share practical experience, IEA PVPS is hosting a two-part public online seminar series in October 2026: “Plug-in PV and Battery Storage: International Perspectives on Electrical and Fire Safety.”
Plug-in PV occupies an interesting space between conventional rooftop PV and consumer electrical products. Its appeal lies partly in its simplicity: smaller systems can reduce some of the practical barriers associated with conventional rooftop installations.
The addition of compact battery storage creates further opportunities, allowing households to store solar electricity and use it later. At the same time, integrating PV generation, power electronics and storage into household electrical systems introduces additional technical and safety considerations.
Regulatory responses differ between markets. Requirements can vary in terms of electrical connection, product certification, protection, registration, installation and building or fire safety. These differences can create uncertainty for consumers and present challenges for manufacturers developing products for multiple markets.
International exchange can therefore help identify where approaches share common principles, where national circumstances require different solutions and where greater alignment may be useful.
The IEA PVPS seminars on 19 and 28 October will bring together experts involved in standards development, regulation, certification, research and practical implementation.
Rather than promoting a single regulatory model, the discussions will compare how different jurisdictions are responding to plug-in PV and battery storage.
Topics will include standards and approval pathways, product certification and quality assurance, electrical connection and protection requirements, installation practices and consumer considerations. The seminars will also explore how regulatory frameworks can provide appropriate safeguards while allowing technically sound products and new business models to develop.
The discussions will contribute to future IEA PVPS activities and to the preparation of guidance on the safe deployment of plug-in PV and battery storage systems.
The seminars are open to industry, policymakers, regulators, utilities, manufacturers, installers, certification bodies, researchers, safety authorities and other stakeholders interested in distributed PV and storage.
Session 1: Monday, 19 October 2026 | 12:00–14:00 CEST
[Register for Session 1]
Session 2: Wednesday, 28 October 2026 | 11:00–13:00 CET
[Register for Session 2]
Both sessions will be held online and are free to attend.
As plug-in PV and compact battery storage become a more established part of distributed energy systems, sharing experience across markets can help ensure that regulatory frameworks develop alongside the technology.
This article is part of a monthly column by the IEA PVPS programme.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own, and do not necessarily reflect those held by pv magazine.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].
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