Germany Advances Plug-and-Play Solar Model; Lessons For India

Germany will publish the world’s first product standard for plug-in solar devices (balcony PV) in December this year, after eight years of development — setting a global precedent. The standard, “Plug-in solar devices for grid-connected operation – Part 95: Safety requirements”, follows two published draft standards, extensive consultations with more than 1,250 objections, and a final arbitration process. The standard domes even as the number of users of balcony solar, the most common plug and play solar, have crossed a million users in the country.  (See our story on Balcony Solar In SaurEnergy)

The pre-standard is primarily aimed at developers, manufacturers, and suppliers of plug-in solar devices. It gives them a clear understanding of the technical requirements they must meet, and provides testing facilities with defined safety benchmarks. It also addresses end consumers, sellers, landlords, and homeowners by specifying comprehensive documentation requirements. The move comes at a time when solar prices have become low enough to enable plug-and-play solutions and  decentralised renewable energy a viable option for more and more users.. 

India Lacks Equivalent Standards

As Germany finalises this first-of-its-kind plug-and-play solar standard, India — which is pushing rooftop and decentralised solar power applications— can draw useful lessons to accelerate safe, consumer-driven adoption.

In India, even though the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued BIS/MNRE standards, they are not equivalent to Germany’s product-specific safety norm for socket-connected mini PV systems. India could especially benefit from such a framework for small consumers, apartment dwellers, and renters.

India currently does not have a Germany-style plug-and-play standard. While states like Delhi, Maharashtra, and Karnataka allow small rooftop solar with simplified processes, there is no national standard governing plug-in balcony systems in terms of:

• Power limits

• Safety requirements

• Consumer documentation

• Grid-connection rules

Germany’s framework highlights a major opportunity for India to:

• Address the emerging “micro-solar” market for apartments and urban renters

• Reduce grid stress through distributed generation

• Enable citizens to contribute small but meaningful amounts of renewable energy

• Accelerate rooftop solar penetration, which remains below the 40 GW target

Germany’s experience shows that standardisation drives adoption. Without safety clarity and product norms, the plug-in solar market remains informal and unregulated.

Balancing Safety and Consumer Interests

Germany, too, struggled for years to reach consensus on issues such as raising maximum power limits and simplifying grid connections — especially on permissible plug types and safety thresholds. The goal was to balance user convenience with protection against electric shocks, mechanical hazards, and domestic wiring overloads.

What the Product Standard Defines

The new standard outlines full technical requirements for plug-in solar devices — also known as balcony power plants and guerrilla PV — as complete systems."This gives end users a clear picture of what they need to bear in mind and what requirements the plug-in solar system should meet for safe operation," says Ansgar Hinz, CEO, VDE. He adds that "Standard-compliant devices that are safe for users in terms of product liability significantly increase confidence in plug-in solar system technology on the market."

Maximum Power Limits

The regulation sets the following feed-in power limit for inverters:  

• Maximum feed-in power of the inverter: 800 VA

• Maximum total module power with household plug: 800 Wp + 20% (960 Wp)

• Maximum total module power with special energy plug: 2000 Wp

New Connection Rules

For the first time, the standard allows new types of grid connections. Protective measures now enable plug-in solar devices to be safely connected to conventional household sockets using protective-contact plugs.

Safety can be ensured through:

• Modified household plugs with protective covers

• Internal circuit breakers

• Galvanic isolation in the inverter (with additional requirements)

Special plug connectors (e.g., DIN VDE V 0628-1) remain permitted.

The committee DKE/K 373 will also release a detailed standard interpretation and FAQ in mid-December 2025 to guide implementation. Plug-in solar devices with energy storage are not included in this standard; a separate part is planned.

"The grid requirements in the international arena are very diverse due to the different rules in different countries," says Alexander Nollau, Head of the Energy Department at German Commission for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies. 

"Standardization is very complex here because a great many special features have to be adapted to the respective national requirements." It therefore makes sense to transfer the part of the standard that does not deal with grid requirements to international standardization. "This part is certainly useful and relevant for all countries," adds Nollau.

"The product standard will therefore most likely serve as the basis for the development of an international standard."