Solar panels, inverters and home batteries

• Directive 2014/35/EU — Low Voltage
• Directive 2014/30/EU — EMC
• Regulation (EU) 2016/631 — grid connection requirements
• Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 — Batteries
• Directive 2012/19/EU — WEEE
• Regulation (EU) 2024/2847 — CRA for connected inverters

Who has to appoint one

Manufacturers outside the Union placing photovoltaic modules, inverters or home storage systems on the EU market. Grid-connected inverters must additionally comply with the network code requirements, which are implemented nationally and require a certificate accepted by the local grid operator.

Thresholds and exemptions

None for product conformity. Grid connection thresholds are national and determine which certification the distribution operator will accept.

What must appear on the label

CE marking, manufacturer and EU representative details, model and serial number, electrical ratings, the WEEE symbol, and for batteries the capacity, chemistry and required markings. Inverters carry the grid code compliance information.

Marketplace fields

Balcony solar kits sold direct to consumers are a growth category and a frequent enforcement target, because grid connection rules and inverter certification are often ignored by importers.

Documentation you must hold

EU declaration of conformity, technical file, electrical and EMC test reports, grid code certificates accepted in the target member states, battery documentation and transport test summaries, and WEEE, battery and packaging registrations.

Standards and testing

EN IEC 61215 and 61730 for photovoltaic modules, EN IEC 62109 for inverters, EN 50549 and the national grid code annexes for connection, and IEC 62619 or 63056 for storage batteries.

Language requirements

Installation and safety instructions in the language of each member state, including the requirements for notification to the grid operator.

When it applies

Before placing on the market. Grid certificates must be valid for the destination country, not merely for the Union generally.

How long records are kept

Ten years for technical documentation, plus EPR declarations.

What happens if you do not comply

Withdrawal, customs refusal, and refusal of grid connection, which makes the product useless to the buyer. Fire incidents involving home batteries have led to recalls and to insurance disputes.

Who enforces it

Market surveillance authorities, national grid operators and energy regulators, WEEE and battery registers.

Where the boundary lies

Photovoltaic modules are also WEEE category products in every member state, which importers frequently miss, and home batteries require battery producer registration on top. Connected inverters come into the CRA from 2027 with vulnerability reporting from 2026.

Questions we are asked

Can we sell balcony solar kits across the EU?

Only where the inverter meets the destination country's grid code and the notification rules are explained to the buyer. Germany and Austria have specific simplified regimes that others do not share.

Do solar panels need WEEE registration?

Yes, photovoltaic panels are in scope of WEEE in every member state, in addition to packaging and, for storage, battery registration.