How Much Does Plug-In Solar Cost in the UK?
Last reviewed: 27 August 2026. Plug-in solar is legal in Great Britain from 27 August 2026 for compliant devices — see our legal status guide. Here's the money side: kit prices, the small bits people forget, likely savings, and when the thing has paid for itself.
£120–£500
Kit cost range
£0
Installation (DIY)
£148/yr
Typical savings (50% self-use)
~2–3 yrs
Payback period
Kit cost by setup
| Configuration | Capacity | Price range (UK, 2026) | Annual generation | Est. annual savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 panel + microinverter | 350–450W | £120–£250 | 300–450 kWh | £70–£150 |
| 2 panels + microinverter | 700–800W | £250–£500 | 600–900 kWh | £148–£300 |
| 2 panels + battery | 800W + 2kWh storage | £500–£1,200 | 600–900 kWh | £200–£400 |
Treat these as working prices
Only seven plug-in solar kits are listed as Compliant on ENA Connect Direct (as of 27 August 2026), all from UKSOL. Other prices are estimates based on European market pricing. Expect some wobble now that UK products are officially available from 27 August 2026.
What pushes the price up?
- Panel count and wattage: More panels mean more capacity, and more capacity costs more. A single 400W panel kit is the cheapest way in.
- Microinverter brand: The inverter is usually the priciest single part. But brand premium only matters within the compliant list — as of 28 August 2026 EcoFlow, Anker and other big names are Non-compliant on the ENA register, so their kits cannot legally be connected under the GB plug-in route however good the app is.
- Battery storage: Kits with built-in batteries are excluded from the first GB plug-in route entirely. An add-on battery roughly doubles the cost and can lift self-consumption from ~30% to ~60%+, but check the compliance route before buying any bundle.
- Panel efficiency: Higher-efficiency panels (e.g., 22%+ vs 18%) make more electricity from the same space, but they cost more. For plug-in solar, standard panels are usually enough.
- Mounting hardware: Balcony railing mounts and flat-roof mounts don't cost the same. Garden ground mounts can be different again. Some kits include mounts. Some sell them separately, which is a slightly boring surprise.
Costs that are easy to miss
| Item | Cost | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| Type B RCD | £30–£60 | If required by BS 7671 Amendment 4 for your installation |
| Cable extension | £10–£25 | If panels are far from your socket (over ~5m) |
| Extra mounting brackets | £15–£40 | If your kit doesn't include the mount type you need |
| Consumer unit labelling | £0–£5 | Required by BS 7671 Amendment 4 (label indicating embedded generator) |
You don't need to budget for an electrician
Plug-in solar is designed for DIY installation. You don't need to pay for an electrician, MCS certification, or building regulations approval. Budget for the kit and any small extras listed above. That's the bill.
How much can it save?
The saving depends on what you actually use while the panels are producing. That's self-consumption. The other part is whether you're registered for SEG, so any exported electricity earns something instead of just wandering off.
| Self-consumption rate | Annual savings (800W system) | SEG income (export surplus) | Total annual benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30% (typical, no battery) | ~£90 | ~£20 | ~£110 |
| 50% (good, no battery) | ~£148 | ~£15 | ~£163 |
| 60% (with battery) | ~£178 | ~£10 | ~£188 |
| 100% (ideal, with battery) | ~£296 | ~£0 | ~£296 |
The figures assume an electricity price of ~£0.27/kWh (UK average, 2026) and SEG export rates of 1–12p/kWh depending on supplier. Before you do the sums for your own setup, check our SEG registration guide for current supplier rates.
When does it pay back?
| System | Total cost | Annual benefit | Payback period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-panel kit (400W, no battery) | £150 | ~£80/yr | ~2 years |
| 2-panel kit (800W, no battery) | £350 | ~£163/yr | ~2.1 years |
| 2-panel kit + 2kWh battery | £800 | ~£188/yr | ~4.3 years |
Fast payback, by home energy standards
At ~2–3 years payback, plug-in solar is quick by home energy standards. A full rooftop solar system typically takes 7–12 years to pay back. That doesn't make rooftop solar bad. It's just a much bigger purchase.
Common cost questions
Do you keep paying after buying the kit?
No. There are no subscription fees or maintenance contracts. There are no ongoing costs. The G98 notification is free. SEG registration is free. The only "cost" is the electricity you would have bought from the grid, which the panels now make instead.
Are there grants for plug-in solar?
As of August 2026, there's no grant scheme specifically for plug-in solar. The existing ECO4 scheme and Warm Homes Plan focus on insulation and heating. The 0% VAT on solar panels applies to plug-in solar kits, and that's already reflected in retail pricing.
Will my home insurance go up?
Tell your home insurer when you install a plug-in solar kit. Most insurers do not increase premiums for plug-in solar (as opposed to a full rooftop installation), but it still needs to be declared. Check with your specific insurer, because insurance small print has a gift for being annoying.
Price it properly before you buy
This page was last reviewed on 18 August 2026. Use it as guidance, not financial advice.