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Plug-in solar kits compared
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Panels plus an 800 W inverter that plug into a wall socket. Legal in Great Britain since 27 August 2026 for kits on the .
Plug-in solar kits worth a look
Common worries, answered
Will it ever pay for itself?
On the government's figures an 800 W kit tilted south saves about £113 a year in a home where someone is in during the day. The cheapest register-listed kit we list is £449 (sold out at the seller today), so that is roughly 4 years, and panels usually last far longer. Your home will differ: check yours in six questions.
Is it really legal and safe to plug into a socket?
Yes in England, Wales and Scotland since 27 August 2026, for kits listed on the ENA Type Test Register. We only recommend kits whose listing we could confirm, and each kit page shows it. The rules ask for a modern consumer unit and no extension leads; if your fuse box is old, get an electrician to check it first. Is plug-in solar safe?
My house doesn't face south.
East or west still works. The government's figure for an upright east or west wall is about £72 a year with the same kit. North-facing is the one case where it is rarely worth it, and our calculator says so. Every direction compared.
I rent, or I live in a flat.
Plug-in solar was designed with flats in mind: no roof, no installer. You need your landlord's or freeholder's permission, and when you move you unplug it and take it with you, telling the network operator both times.
Sounds complicated.
Fix the panels with the maker's brackets, plug the kit into an outdoor socket, and tell your network operator using the QR code on the label. No meter change and no installer for the kit itself.
Can't I add a battery to use it in the evening?
Not under the plug-in rules: batteries are outside them and need fitting by a registered electrician. A plug-in kit pays back fastest on power you use in the day. Are solar batteries safe and legal?
All plug-in solar kits (4)
Top pick here: UKSOL Pro Duo 890W (ground mount) from £1,199 Check price at Argos
| Kit | From | Panels | Saving a year* | Payback* | ENA register | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Octopus Energy Plug-in Solar bundle | £450 | 460 W | £65 | 7.0 years | Not confirmed | 8.6 | See details |
| UKSOL Pro Duo 890W (ground mount) | £1,199 | 890 W | £119 | 10.1 years | Confirmed | 7.5 | Check price at Argos |
| EcoFlow STREAM Plug-in Solar Kit (wall or balcony) | £449 | 800 W | £113 | 4.0 years | Confirmed | 9.4 | Check price at EcoFlow UK |
| EcoFlow STREAM Plug-in Solar Kit (flat or pitched roof) | £549 | 800 W | £113 | 4.9 years | Not confirmed | 9.4 | Check price at EcoFlow UK |
* Cheapest version, panels tilted south with little shade and someone home in the day (DESNZ figures), at 26.32p a kWh. Work out your own.
Top pick here: UKSOL Pro Duo 890W (ground mount) from £1,199 Check price at Argos
Read the UK rules and whether it's worth it before you buy.
Not electrical advice. We compare products; we are not electricians. Before you connect a solar kit to your home, ask a qualified electrician to check the socket, the circuit and your consumer unit, and follow the maker's instructions.