Plug in solar

Baldytyke88

I caught the last few seconds on radio four, about plug in solar coming to the UK.

How does it work in other countries, where its already in use?

I have seen examples of panels on a balcony and a flat roof, I have a outbuilding with a flat roof, so DIY would work for me.

There are kits on ebay for £300+, would a system just need one plug and what would be the max/min wattage of the panels?

Solar is not generally recommended on flat roofs, how would a DIYer work out the panels' viability in relation to how much sun is needed?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/316834628681?_trkparms=itmf%3D1%26aid%3D1110006%26rkt%3D4%26mech%3D1%26algv%3DSimVIDwebV4WithCtxRankerV1UnifiedFeaturesOpt%26pmt%3D1%26amclksrc%3DITM%26sd%3D135183588992%26sid%3DAQALAAAAEHbWpe%2BMttfTwbuTDnxGxTY%3D%26itm%3D316834628681%26noa%3D1%26plcampt%3D0%3A14814480016%2C5%3AAG5129672986%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26brand%3DEcoFlow%26asc%3D20231107084023%26ao%3D1%26rk%3D1%26pid%3D101875%26b%3D1%26mehot%3Dnone%26lsid%3D3%26meid%3D174f7612b37c43a9861a0bd171b9e57e%26pg%3D2332490&_trksid=p2332490.c101875.m1851&itmprp=cksum%3A316834628681174f7612b37c43a9861a0bd171b9e57e%7Cenc%3AAQALAAAA8LNK5VlCGWE7qhvymTdtADcEIM1m--Lb8lvmE724T5%252FtnsMQcvwmWo9Mvv%252BcaShurfMIz7n%252Fg9Xdju0kJpko5oHkvm13IE789q0LnVsLZQ22V6jehL3PEOWJb6ik0O3THq4Gis8MxYV6iib81fCYp1hDqMqw%252FVLKzSO02uTx6dp51JERliwAhVTxlPIvE4SKBvWudXOlbjwK6H6i0DxJO4k6Ok56GQxlwR6M9UXXGtj8kFFMscumZGSX%252FKUGgD9phIK5xB6IUM7tszkwcVu9wau99Vkxv%252BceIM5P4v63gS96x%252BBeXcFFKbO1wOnwxGUn4w%253D%253D%7Campid%3APLP_CLK%7Cclp%3A2332490&itmmeta=01KKRCNYRTAA46VC5MTDDT2K40

flaneurs_lobster

Remember how streets used to look when every single dwelling had a satellite dish attached to it?

Most attractive.

Maybe there should be some kind of regulation before eBay purchasers start feeding balcony power into their homes?

I see that the example that the OP has posted is controlled by AI, so that's all right then.

QrizB

I caught the last few seconds on radio four, about plug in solar coming to the UK. How does it work in other countries, where its already in use?

You buy a kit, put it together, point the panels at the sun and plug it in. Electricity is generated and fed into your home. Some you use, some you export. Export is unlikely to be paid for.

There are kits on ebay for £300+, would a system just need one plug and what would be the max/min wattage of the panels?

If this is approved for the UK, you're likely to be limited to somewhat less than a kilowatt of inverter capacity (Germany allows 800 watts, for example). Typically that would mean two 400-to-500 watt panels.

Smaller systems would be possible but probably less cost effective.

Lidl sells kits in Germany:

https://www.lidl.de/h/stromerzeuger/h10031840?pageId=10067761%2F10067532%2F10031840&sort=price

Remember how streets used to look when every single dwelling had a satellite dish attached to it? Most attractive.

Currently solar PV is permitted development for most people so NIMBYs don't get a say. Hopefully this will also be the case for plugin solar, if it gets UK approval.

NanookOfTheNorth

I'm all for green energy but it says saving up to £74/year, so you've got to get that setup working reliably and not fail for atlease 5 years to get any money back from buying the equipment.

Isnt it cheaper to buy direct at £349 which has 2 x 400W panels and has a 10 year warranty (with asterisk so probably has plenty of exclusions!) so maybe compare it to that instead of Ebay?

https://uk.ecoflow.com/products/stream-balcony-solar-system?variant=50632829174099

Vitor

Hopefully the 'consultation' will follow what Germany has done and allow simple DIY install without needing inspection, building control notification, landlord approval etc. which all adds to the cost.

As I understand it, the electricity for dishwasher, tumble dryers etc. will use whatever power is coming from the panels, as local demand is met first because those loads are on the same system as the inverter.

If the price is sensible, I'd go for 800W to 1.2kW panels as I can use high demand appliances like dishwasher during the day when the panels are producing peak power.

QrizB

Isnt it cheaper to buy direct at £349 which has 2 x 400W panels and has a 10 year warranty (with asterisk so probably has plenty of exclusions!) so maybe compare it to that instead of Ebay?

Ecoflow's pricing does depend on various discounts and offers but it's worth noting that the eBay listing is:

• Directly with the supplier
• Has the same 2x400W panels
• £350.10 after coupon codes
• Has the 10-year warranty

So effectively it's an identical bundle at almost the same price. OP just chose the eBay link rather than the manufacturer's own site.

(An equivalent system is 249 Euros from Lidl in Germany, about £215.)

sheenas

I assume they will be approved as the same issues existed in Germany where they have already allowed them. The basic problem was the plugs now carry voltage in the other direction and therefore the prongs would be live. This is solved by having a protection device that cut the power on disconnection. The only really sticky point is consumer unit with type AC RCDs. Most consumer units need upgrading when installing solar to type A and ideally bidirectional RCDs.

QrizB

The basic problem was the plugs now carry voltage in the other direction and therefore the prongs would be live. This is solved by having a protection device that cut the power on disconnection.

Every grid-tied inverter already has that built in. It's what cuts the export if there's a power cut.

QrizB

Here's how it's done in Germany (article by a German, but in English):

https://balkon.solar/news/2025/11/22/what-does-the-new-german-plug-in-pv-norm-say/

Heedtheadvice

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81923777#Comment_81923777

True but the big difference is that normal solar is hard wired from grid to a certofied and tested inverter via an isolator switch and properly installed by an electrician or engineer ( being an installation under regs) so it then conforms to regulations.

The balcony types are usually portable units connected via a plug that when not connected into a socket ( plug pins being accessible) and the protection method fails can expose lethal voltages. Currently not allowed in the UK.

It remains to be seen if it will be allowable under the wiring regs and thus also then all that the regs then provides such as compliance with law and acceptability by insurers. Currently anyone connecting such solar is at risk on several fronts.