Beat the plug-in solar rush: how to build a kit now for less than £400
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.
Britain is weeks away from its plug-in solar revolution, and key components for an 800W system currently cost just over £300, although cables, mounting equipment and compliance could increase the final bill
In just three weeks time, plug-in solar systems will be legalised in the UK for the first time, allowing households to save money by harnessing free energy from the sun.
However, as big retailers line up to start stocking DIY kits when the legislation changes on Thursday, August 27, there has already been a surge in sales - and it's driving prices up.
But savvy shoppers can still find deals if they know where to look, and it's still possible to the key things you'll need to be ready to plug a solar system in on August 27 for just over £300.
DIY, or balcony solar systems consist of two main parts - a solar panel setup, and a microinverter. The panels turn sunlight into electricity, and the microinverter makes that feed safe for a household wiring system.
Where to buy DIY solar system parts from and how much to pay
It has been suggested that plug-in solar systems will start to appear in shops like Currys, B&Q, Lidl, and on Amazon soon for between £300 and £400, but the component parts for an 800w setup (the legal limit in the UK) already out there.
For example, an 800w microinverter by EcoFlow is currently listed on Amazon for £122.55 - saving 18% off RRP. And solar panels can be bought from City Plumbing for £91.20 each, with free delivery. Stock up on two, and that's an initial investment of £304.95.
Delivery costs of the EcoFlow Stream microinverter will depend on whether or not you're a member of Amazon Prime, but you'll also need to budget for connectors, leads, and potentially some sort of fixing kit.
This could bring your initial investment closer to £400, depending on how and where you want to site your solar panels, but it's a tempting price for early adopters.
How much can you save with an 800w plug-in solar kit?
On a sunny day, an 800w solar system could save over £1 per day off your electricity bills. That doesn't sound like a lot, but it soon adds up over a few years.
Cloudy days will see the savings drastically reduced, but even on bright winter days, two panels and a microinverter could deliver enough to cover your home's base load, making up for fridge freezers and other electrical devices that run constantly.
This is how your investment is eventually rewarded, over a period of time, and given solar panels have a 25-year guarantee, you should have comfortably paid it off during their lifetime. Even the microinverter is guaranteed for 10 years.
Why do we have to wait until August 27?
Compared to some legislation changes, the move to allow British householders to plug solar systems directly into a three-pin socket has happened extremely quickly.
Former energy secretary Ed Miliband first publicly discussed the plan in March, and a consultation began in June. The August date will see new standards introduced that bring us into line with large swathes of Europe, who have been plugging solar panels into the mains for years.
The idea was opposed by electrical industry bodies, who currently support electricians who wire the systems in, but positive reactions from other stakeholders in the consultation swayed the decision.
Can anyone use a plug-in solar system?
All you need to start harvesting your own free energy is enough money for the system, and some suitable space to set it up.
Many people in Europe use balconies to hang solar panels on, some use shed or garage roofs, some even just fix them to fences.
The key thing is ensuring the panels have plenty of sunlight, and the best way to do this is to face them as close to south as possible.
After your panels are placed, you just need to be able to route the cables safely, and have access to a three-pin socket.
Battery systems are quite widely available in the UK already, with more set to be launched in the late summer, but these are not currently written into the new UK specification. So currently, only the microinverter and panels can be plugged in after August 27. A battery storage setup of any kind would have to be professionally wired in.
Selling every 20 seconds worldwide, SmilePro’s Advanced Whitening Kit is one of the fastest-growing alternatives to expensive dentist whitening. The dentist-developed system claims to deliver visibly whiter teeth in just 10 minutes and is currently available with 50% off.
🏡✨ For 19p, you could be in with a chance of winning a £1.85 million dream home bundle in Lancashire, complete with five en-suite bedrooms, 1.77 acres, smart-home tech, a Gaggenau kitchen and every bit of furniture included.
🚗💨 The prize also comes with a black 2023 Range Rover D300, packed with luxury touches including a panoramic roof, Windsor leather, Meridian audio and a huge 13.1-inch touchscreen.
💷 Prefer the money? The winner can take the £1.3 million tax-free cash alternative instead, with the live draw set for Friday, July 31 at 9pm.