Introduction
In this article we give a short overview of the new German Plug-in-PV Norm and its implications.
There are 1.1 million registered plug-in solar systems and probably something between 3 to 4 million in total in Germany as of November 2025.
About half of them are sold with a battery.
the right to plug-in-pv
Plug-in-PV is legal in Germany and renters and co owner flats or apartments in condominium have a right to plug-in-pv. The German parliament wrote that into the rental contract law and the law governing condominiums.
Even if you rent a condo from an individual owner, you have the right to use plug-in pv and your individual landlord has the right to get it approved by the condominium board or assembly of owners.
Renter have a right but have to ask the landlord for permission, who has to grant this permission and can only refuse it if he can claim his interest in not allowing is exceeding the interests (cheap electricity, climate protection, …) of the tenant to have it.
Renewables Act
The Renewables Act contains provisions that make it simpler for normal citizens to register their plug-in pv system. If it has no more than 2000 Watts peak solar panel power and if it the inverter produces no more than 800 Watts.
Registering a solar system is required by the law and not doing so could incur a penalty. However we do not know of cases in which such a penalty has ever been imposed for a plug-in pv system.
All other solar systems need an electrician to register, this also gives the right to receive feed-in tariff.
When doing the norm the VDE DKE 373 assumed that digital meters are not widespread and a substantial amount of housing does have very old wires.
— BalkonSolar (@balkon.solar) 11 December 2025 at 16:21
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Insurances cover plug-in pv systems in their normal private liability insurances.
Germany the first country with a Norm
Germany is the first large country to have a dedicated standard and norm for a plug-in-pv system. We would like to summarize it here. After more than eight years of deliberation the VDE, the german electrotechnical standards organization, has finally published the plug-in-pv DIN VDE V 0126-95 VDE V 0126-95:2025-12 “Steckersolargeräte für Netzparallelbetrieb” .
These devices are often referred to as “Steckersolar” plug-in-pv or Balkonsolar, balcony-PV. We will use plug-in-pv here, as more than half of the systems are not used on a balcony.
We are trying to give international readers an overview of the requirements and help with this article to make plug-in-pv more popular and take it out of the grey zone in more and more countries.
How does the Norm define the systems?
The norm defines three different kinds of plug-in pv systems:
- Those below 960 Watt peak solar panel power, regardless of orientation, that have a qualifying inverter, meaning it meets certain standards, that it has been checked and a certificate to prove it. Such a system can use a standard “Schuko plug”, these are the standard plugs used in all households in Germany, to connect to house and electrical grid.
We have already spoken to Hoymiles who has told us that “Our HMS and HiFlow & Pro are definitely okay. Older versions such as HM, we are waiting to check the full details”
- A system that has less than 960 Watt peak solar panel power but no qualifying inverter. Thus it needs a special version of the Schuko Plug: Either one that has small plastic protection around the metal pins or a switch inside the plug that is on when the plug is turned on.
Such special Schuko plugs exist, but they are more expensive. But even an inverter that has no certificate or has not undergone a unit test can be used with such a cable. We are looking for many companies that produce such plugs so that they become widely available.
- A system with more than 960 Wp but no more than 2000 Wp. This can still use a plug but the norm demands the use of a special “feed in plug”. Apparently the idea is that an electrician will install such a plug and check the wires and fuses and only then the system is installed.
A package from a distributor
The norm imagines a plug-in pv system to be sold as a package by the distributor. And thus have the following content:
- an inverter
- one or more solar panels
- a cable connection from the inverter to the socket. This cable has to be at least 5 m long. This might sound funny, but it is intended to make people stop using extension cords.
- all direct current connections have to be made with plugs of the same type and from the same producer.
- a mounting system that has a “structural analysis“ oder „static analysis“ and also gives indication how high it can be used.
- comprehensive assembly instructions in German.
- a detailed manual in German.
For us it’s unclear if the assembly instruction or manual can be made available as PDF or if it has to be a printed version.
If an adapter cable is used to connect panels and inverters with different plug types, the adapter must be pre-assembled on one side by the manufacturer. This would be possible if the inverter has sockets from Stäubli and the solar panel has Jingko plugs. Then the producer has to make an adapter cable and deliver it to the user pre-connected. This provision is taken from DIN IEC/TR 63225. This applies to Y-cables as well.
Schukoplugs and Sockets?
Which combination of plugs and sockets are permissible? (6.2.3) in the norm.
- so called “energy plug device” according to DIN VDE V 0628-1, these are more commonly known as “Wieland Plugs”, however someone besides Wieland could also produce such a plug or similar plug/socket connection.
- a hard-wired connection. e.g. an Electrician comes to the house and connects it to the house.
- “6.2.3.3 Plug Device According to DIN 49441-2 and DIN VDE 0620-2-1 With Additional Touch Protection”, what sounds convoluted means a standard Schuko plug that has either an integrated switch that closes when the plug is in the socket or a plug where the metal pins are sheathed with plastic, so that they can not be touched when removed from the plug.
These provisions stem from the fact, that there is small chance, that the cut-off mechanism in the inverter might malfunction and the user removing the plug from the socket could get electrocuted.
However the norm for such plugs is currently under development.
- “6.2.3.4 Plug Device According to DIN 49441-2 and DIN VDE 0620-2-1 (VDE 0620-2-1) With Interruption of Power Conversion, Rapid Discharge of Capacitors, and Safe Isolation in the Inverter” – what sounds convoluted, means: If you have an inverter that fulfills certain criteria you can use a standard Schuko Plug. We will detail this in another section.
For such a device the requirements are:
“• Rapid interruption of internal power conversion
• Rapid discharge of capacitors that are not isolated from the plug contacts
• Safe isolation of any remaining hazardous voltages from the plug contacts”
The detailed conditions are described at: “6.2.3.4.2 Protective Measures”
For example if: “software is used to fulfill the following requirements, it must be implemented in accordance with DIN EN 62109-1 (VDE 0126-14-1):2011-04, Annex B.”
There is also a provision for Anti-islanding.
There are other safety preconditions describing the inverter, such as:
- capacitors larger than 100 nF may only have a discharge time of 1 second to a voltage of no more than 34 V.
- “relay contacts in the line conductor and the neutral conductor must open within 0.1 seconds.”
etc…
On the cable to the Schuko plug there has to be a label with the following information:
– Only one plug-in-solar device may be connected on one “final” circuit.
– Rated current (In) of the device.
– The symbol for referring to the instruction manual” (ISO 7010-M002).
– Plug-in solar devices must not be connected through multi-socket adapters.
For plug devices described in Section 6.2.3.3, the following additional marking is required:
– The plug must not be inserted into the coupling socket of an extension cord.
Documentation
The documentation requirement is fairly extensive and every producer should consider this requirement seriously:
It has to include: Instructions for intended use, Explanations of all markings and symbols, Location and function of display elements, and operating elements, permissible ambient temperature,installation site requirements, PV connector type and manufacturer for DC connections (e.g. Stäubli MC4 or other), Confirmation of conformity, Contact information, Data sheet for the pv modules, mounting manual for the product: snow load zone if it is for a roof, wind zone, Permissible installation heights above ground for the intended mounting.
Another requirement are good and extensive (8.3.3) Information on Operation and Maintenance.
This Documentation must include: How to operate the device and what happens if I change settings, how to connect accessories, display of the operating status, what to do if there are defects, only use it for the specific purpose sold, inspection and maintenance interval, how to clean it safely.
All these are intended to keep the consumer safe.
Assembly Instructions
The norm takes good assembly instructions seriously and every producer or distributor should put effort into this. It also helps with customer satisfaction. It specifically describes that these must include: how to connect the system, “do not disconnect AC system under load”, where its allowed to be installed and where not, how to proceed with the installation, detailed list of parts, how much ballast is needed, ventilation, where not to install it, how far away from lighting protection it should be, reminder that plug in pv systems are not allowed to be connected through multi socket adapters, remind that escape routes have to be kept free, minimum distance from other building and that you have to register it wi the “Marktstammdatenregister”.
Self Declaration
The producers can either make a „self declaration” in which they assert that the package (inverter, panels, cables, instruction manuals and assembly instructions, mounting with structural calculations) is safe and this declaration transfers the liability to them. Or they can get this entire setup certified by TÜV or someone else.
We are currently thinking how this will impact upcycling or self assembled plugin pv systems, e.g. if its possible that the maker who does the upcycling become the “producer” and can give this declaration himself and what the legal consequences would be.
Gaps in the norm
While we find it positive that such a norm exists, and removes legal and technical uncertainties we must note that the norm as it stands has several gaps:
- cybersecurity: Many investors are already connected to the internet, so producer clouds in order to monitor production. Although this is convenient for the user, this gives security issues. There needs to be a regulation that there is at least an open API in the local network and no need to connect it to a cloud.
- batteries: A norm about systems with batteries is under development and thus the inverter norm is simply silent on that issue. It neither prohibits batteries nor allows them, nor says anything about it. However there are of course already norms about batteries.
- The upcoming IEC Norm is also not covered. A situation could arise in which the IEC norm requires a dedicated circuit for connectin feed in devices. We are confident, that htis does not happen but of course there are other requirements, that could arise from this norm that impede the use of plug in pv. Germany would probably be covered with a national exemption but it might hamper the use in other countries.
A special plug is needed if you have more than 960 wp on the DC-side. But a continuous load of more than 3.5 amps is perfectly fine for other applications such as heater using a normal plug. There are still no reported cases of a 3.5 amp load causing any problems.
Also studies do not imply that the change from 600w to 800w would cause any problems even in older household installations (https://solar.htw-berlin.de/publikationen/kurzbericht-steckersolar-800-w/). Also there is evidence that the maximum load will not be reached the whole day (since the sun wanders and you will never have an optimal setup of the solar panels).
There is no hard evidence that cross-mating of DC-connectors leads to a safety issue. Only anecdotal evidence and assumptions, mainly driven by company interest. Real studies concerning this topic are still missing.
Conclusion
The Norm definitely improves the lot of tenants when talking to their landlord about having a plug-in-solar device. Because the landlord can not argue against a system that is according to the technical norm and that has a certificate.
Thanks
Thanks to Achim Ginsberg-Klemmt for a translation of the norm and other people who helped with this article.