EcoFlow launches its first plug-in solar kit with a £50 early bird discount

Off-grid power specialists EcoFlow have just launched their new plug-in solar kit - and there's a hefty discount for early adopters.

The plug-in solar boom is continuing in the UK, despite the darker months rolling in, and the momentum has shown little sign of slowing down since the government changed legislation in the summer.

Now, the company that became a key player in bringing early iterations of DIY solar to the country, has finally lifted the lid on its new, fully approved plug-in system.

EcoFlow's eagerly-awaited Stream Plug-in Solar Kit went on sale this morning, priced at £599 - with an early bird discount of £50.

While it's not the cheapest kit on the market, the technology is already well established, because the kit includes the familiar Stream microinverter that has sold in huge numbers in the UK - the difference now is it can legally be plugged in to a mains socket, instead of owners having to have it professionally installed.

How does plug-in solar work?

Now that the government has lifted legislation preventing it from happening, essentially you can funnel the electricity coming from your solar panels into a 3-pin AC socket on the wall.

There's a bit more to it than that, because you'll need a microinverter to convert the solar energy into household-friendly electricity, and it the microinverter has to be compliant with ENA regulations - that's the hurdle EcoFlow has just overcome.

This means you can buy everything you need in one kit, and there are plenty on the market, but EcoFlow is one of the biggest names in the business, so this is good news.

How much money will you save with a plug-in solar kit?

EcoFlow says the £599 kit could generate up to 900kWh of electricity in a year, potentially taking up to £187 off your every annual electricity bill.

That sounds like a healthy return on your investment, then, but there are factors to take into account, such as the positioning and angle of your panels, how efficient the setup is overall, and of course we have to factor in the good old British weather.

But the output from most plug-in solar kits will be enough to cover the average house's base load during a sunny day, so you'll be running all your background appliances and devices free of charge for long stints.

What's included in the new EcoFlow Stream kit?

The really compelling aspect of the new kit is you get two solar panels, each capable of generating 500 watts. The microinverter it's supplied with is capped at 800 watts, which is the current UK limit, but this means there's more than enough potential for a strong output, even on cloudy days.

You also get a selection of fixings, cables, and connectors, along with the necessary safety and installation guides. So it's literally everything most households will need to get started.

Why on earth would you buy solar panels in the autumn?

This is actually a great time of year to invest in solar. Sure, your returns won't be as healthy as we move closer to the winter solstice, but with demand slower, prices are comparatively subdued.

Interest is likely to surge during the early spring, and it's very likely prices will start to reflect that. So buying now locks in a decent deal.

Anything else to bear in mind before taking the plunge?

There are a few important considerations to make before you invest in plug-in solar. The most important one is positioning everything.

You microinverter has to plug in to a standard UK plug, and it cannot run through an extension lead. So you might need to get a plug installed.

Then there's the panels. The direction they face and even the angle they're pitched at can have a massive effect on efficiency. EcoFlow will help you optimise this, but if your panels face north, or if they're affected by lots of shade, you'll see much smaller returns.

There's also the small matter of home solar generation being quite addictive. Once you see your smart meter sitting at zero through the day, you might be tempted to expand the system, or even add a battery to store unused electricity for later in the day.

None of this can be done within UK regulations at the moment, so you'd need to turn to a professional installer - but the kit is readily available, and it can be surprisingly affordable.

Where can we buy the EcoFlow Stream kit?

The best place at the moment is the EcoFlow website, which has that £50 discount. Expect it to be in hot demand, and be patient on delivery times, but you should be able to have everything set up just in time for the darkest time of the year - with a promise of longer days to come.

What are the alternatives?

As soon as the legislation lifted in the UK, plenty of suppliers started offering compliant kits.

Argos was one of the big names offering a setup, which costs the same as the EcoFlow kit, but only comes with one 515w panel.

City Plumbing became the darling of DIY solar enthusiasts in the days before we were allowed to plug in, and their current kit is good value at £480, with 1,050w of solar panels included, along with a mounting kit.

The cheapest system we've seen has been this £465 kit on Amazon though, which offers a 340w panel, a microinverter, and a mounting system for £465.

None of these offer the excellent EcoFlow app, though, and EcoFlow's customer support has always been top notch.