G98 Explained: The Form, the 28-Day Notification and Plug in Solar

G98 is the Energy Networks Association (ENA) engineering recommendation that sets out how small generators, from solar inverters to home batteries, connect to the low-voltage network in Great Britain. Anker's UK product page sums it up as connect and notify: if type-tested equipment stays within 16A per phase, the installer connects it first and then tells the local network operator within 28 days, with no prior approval.

This guide covers the G98 form, what a "G98 certificate" usually means, how the rules now reach plug in solar, and when G98 vs G99 matters. It is general information rather than legal advice, so confirm the details for your home with your electrician or DNO.

What is G98 and how do the G98 regulations work?

G98 is an Engineering Recommendation published by the ENA rather than an Act of Parliament. People still call it the G98 regulations, because distribution network operators (DNOs) expect small generators on their networks to meet it.

Small, standardised equipment gets a light-touch route, while larger systems move to G99 and need DNO approval first. The same logic now shapes how plug in solar is treated.

• It sets technical rules for small generators that connect to the low-voltage network.
• It swaps prior approval for notification once the work is complete.
• It does not replace Part P, which governs the wiring inside your home in England and Wales.

Where does the 16A per phase limit come from?

G98 expresses its limit as current rather than power: 16A per phase. On a typical single-phase home supply, Anker's product page and government material put that at roughly 3.68kW. Guidance generally describes the three-phase equivalent as about 11.04kW, but check the current issue of G98 for exact limits.

What are the G98 requirements for equipment and installers?

The G98 requirements cover both the hardware and the installation. Guidance generally states that G98 equipment must be fully type tested and listed on the ENA Type Test Register.

• Equipment: a type-tested inverter or microgenerator with a register listing you can check.
• Size: a total output within 16A per phase.
• Wiring: work to BS 7671 and, in England and Wales, Part P.
• Timing: notification sent to the DNO within 28 days of commissioning.
• Scope: a single home; guidance generally says multi-property projects cannot use connect and notify, so the installer applies first.

What do people mean by a G98 certificate?

The phrase G98 certificate is used loosely and usually means one of two things. Most often it refers to a manufacturer's evidence that a product has been type tested to G98. That is what Anker means when its UK product page says the Solarbank 4 E5000 Pro has completed G98 certification and is officially listed.

Homeowners also use it for the record of their installer's notification: a listed product is the starting point, and the notification shows it is connected at your address. Plug in solar buyers will meet the same distinction, so keep evidence of both.

How does G98 notification work, step by step?

G98 notification happens after the work, not before it. Anker's UK product page describes the sequence for its battery: the electrician sends the G98 documentation to the local DNO within 28 days of commissioning, and ENA Connect Direct can be used.

1. Check that the product is G98 type tested and listed before you buy.
2. Have a registered electrician install and commission the system.
3. The electrician completes the G98 form and submits it, for example through ENA Connect Direct.
4. The submission goes in within 28 days of commissioning.
5. You file the notification with your certificates.

What should you keep once the G98 form is filed?

Your installer handles the G98 form, but the paperwork trail is yours. A tidy file helps when you sell, switch tariff or add equipment. This is one area where a hardwired battery and plug in solar differ sharply, because a socket-connected kit will not come with an electrician's certificates.

• A copy or reference for the G98 notification.
• The Electrical Installation Certificate or Minor Works Certificate, which Electrical Safety First says confirms the work meets BS 7671.
• The Building Regulations Compliance Certificate from a Part P-registered electrician.
• The product datasheet and the type-test listing for your inverter or battery.

How does G98 apply to solar and home batteries?

G98 solar notifications are the familiar case, but the rule follows the inverter rather than the energy source. A home battery whose inverter can export to the grid counts as a generator in network terms, so it needs a G98 or G99 route just as rooftop panels and plug in solar do.

The Anker SOLIX Solarbank 4 E5000 Pro is a useful worked example. On the Anker SOLIX UK product page at the time of writing, Anker states it falls under G98 rather than G99 because its maximum AC output is 2,500VA, about 10.9A, which is below 16A per phase. The Solarbank 4 E5000 Pro specification page lists the details.

Why does the Solarbank ship limited to 800W?

According to the product page, the unit ships set to 800W of AC output. The 2,500W setting is unlocked only after a hardwired installation and grid notification are both complete. The owner then emails proof to Anker support for an unlock password.

• It must currently be installed by a Part P-registered electrician on a dedicated hardwired circuit to the consumer unit, paired with the Anker SOLIX Smart Meter Gen 2.
• The hardware is designed to support plug-in connection, but connecting it to a socket is not currently permitted in the UK.
• Because it is a battery, it sits outside the new rules for plug in solar.

How is plug in solar being brought under G98?

Until 2026, plug in solar sat outside the rules altogether. The DESNZ consultation explained why: the ESQCR expected installations to follow BS 7671, which was written for fixed wiring, and BS 1363 did not allow plugs and sockets to connect generating equipment.

The government's fix included amending G98 so that plug-in microgenerators meeting a new Interim Product Specification (IPS) can connect to low-voltage networks. DESNZ confirmed that plug in solar became legal to buy and use across Great Britain from 27 August 2026, for kits of up to 800W.

• The IPS sets minimum safety requirements for plug in solar, covering electrical design, the British plug, labelling and fire protection.
• The DESNZ electrical safety study recommended a simplified registration approach for plug in solar instead of a full installer-led process.
• The government said it would publish consumer guidance alongside the change, so check it for how plug in solar registration works in practice.
• Northern Ireland uses G98/NI and its own ESQCR, so the change there depends on the NI department.

Does the G98 change cover a plug in solar battery?

No. The IPS covers plug in solar without batteries, so a plug in solar battery is not part of the new route, and the Energy Saving Trust notes that kits with integrated storage are not covered under current rules. A hardwired battery such as the Solarbank still needs a standard G98 notification from an electrician.

G98 vs G99: which route applies to your system?

The G98 vs G99 question mostly comes down to size and equipment. Larger systems fall under G99 and need DNO approval before connection.

• A single type-tested inverter or battery within 16A per phase: G98, with notification within 28 days.
• An IPS-compliant plug in solar kit of up to 800W: the amended G98 route, according to DESNZ.
• A combined system above 16A per phase: G99, so apply and wait for approval.
• A larger inverter with an export cap: guidance generally points to a G100 export limitation scheme, which lets the inverter limit what it sends to the grid.
• Several properties in one project: guidance generally says connect and notify does not apply, so speak to the DNO first.

Adding panels or a second battery later can change which route applies, and so can pairing an existing rooftop array with plug in solar. Ask your installer to check the combined output with the DNO before you buy extra hardware.

How does a G98-listed battery compare with plug in solar kits?

Buyers weighing a hardwired battery against plug in solar are comparing two paperwork routes as well as two products. The table sets out the headline figures.

These figures come from each brand's UK store and the Energy Saving Trust, checked on 30 October 2026; prices change, so re-check them before you buy.

A panel-only plug in solar kit follows the IPS route with no storage, while a battery such as the Solarbank needs an electrician but holds 5,024Wh, per the official Anker SOLIX datasheet. If storing daytime energy matters to you, look at Anker's G98-listed Solarbank battery alongside your usual evening demand.

Conclusion

G98 is less daunting than its name suggests. For most homes it means listed, type-tested equipment, a registered electrician and a notification that reaches the DNO within 28 days, with G99 reserved for larger or combined systems.

Plug in solar now has its own amended G98 path for small panel-only kits, while batteries stay on the electrician-led route. Keep the notification and your certificates in one place, and you will have what you need for tariffs, resale or future upgrades.

If you want storage that is already G98 listed, explore the Anker SOLIX Solarbank 4 E5000 Pro and ask a Part P-registered electrician to quote for a hardwired installation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who submits the G98 notification for a home battery installation?

The installing electrician normally submits it, not the homeowner. Anker's UK product page says the electrician should send the G98 documentation to the local DNO within 28 days of commissioning, and ENA Connect Direct can be used. Ask your installer for a copy or reference so you have proof the notification was made.

Does G98 apply in Northern Ireland?

Northern Ireland has its own version, known as G98/NI, which sits alongside the ESQCR (NI) 2012. DESNZ notes that connection rules there differ from Great Britain, so the plug in solar changes do not automatically apply. If you live in Northern Ireland, check the local position with your installer and network operator first.

Is a G98 notification the same as building regulations approval?

No. G98 tells the network operator that a generator is connected, while building regulations cover the safety of the wiring in your home. In England and Wales, a Part P-registered electrician handles approval and should provide a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate. You will usually need both sets of paperwork for a hardwired battery.

Does a G98 listing make a battery eligible for Smart Export Guarantee payments?

Not on its own. The Energy Saving Trust says SEG suppliers usually require MCS-certified, or equivalent, technology and installation, plus a smart meter that records exports. Suppliers may also ask how you separate solar export from grid-charged battery export. Check your chosen supplier's terms before assuming a battery will earn payments.

What happens to my G98 position if I add more panels later?

Adding generation can change which route applies. G98 covers small systems up to 16A per phase, so a larger combined output may need a G99 application with prior DNO approval instead. Before you buy extra panels or another battery, ask your installer to check the total output and confirm the right route with the DNO.

How do I find out which DNO covers my home?

Guidance generally lists six DNO groups in Great Britain, covering 14 licence areas. You can usually identify yours with the ENA postcode lookup or by calling 105, the free power cut line. Your installer will normally know the right operator, but it is worth noting the name for your own records and any future paperwork.