Plug in solar

Newbie_John

Well, if you want to go the export way then plug in isnt really for you. 800kWh exported at 12p rate = £96, compared to self consumed at 30p rate (January 2026) = £240.

Now, the cheapest Ocotpus set was £650 and cheapest "other" is around £400. If you're able to consume a lot you could pay back the "other" one with 2 years time, relying solely on export the Ocotpus kit will take 6.5 years.

Sure it's a nice little extra, but for many years you really just get the back the money you overpaid.

Anyway, their PR still works well as they've sold out 😅

QrizB

Well, if you want to go the export way then plug in isnt really for you. 800kWh exported at 12p rate = £96, compared to self consumed at 30p rate (January 2026) = £240.

Sure, but if you consume half and export half then export will add £48 to the £120 saving. So you'll pay for your £400 plug-in kit in 2.4 years not 3.3 years, or for your £650 kit in 3.9 years not 5.4.

Which is worth having, if all else is equal.

Newbie_John

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82181317#Comment_82181317

Not sure you understood me, Octopus only allows export payments for their own set which is £250 more expensive than the cheapest similar out there. £48 export payment takes 5 years to pay back the difference what you paid extra for their own branded set.

I just wanted to highlight that while import rate is 2.5x higher - you'll get the same £48 if you change the 50/50 export/import ratio to 33/66.

QrizB

Octopus only allows export payments for their own set

That is not what the MSE article on plug-in solar says, though. And I can't find anything from Octopus to day they'll only pay export for kits they themselves have supplied.

One of us is working on the wrong assumptions.

Newbie_John

Here (FAQ at the bottom):

https://octopus.energy/plug-in-solar-explore/

You buy Plug-in Solar from us AND we supply your home energy: You get access to Octopus Outgoing — our top-tier export tariff that pays you our absolute best rates for every bit of extra sunshine you send back to the grid.

You buy your Plug-in Solar elsewhere: You won't be able to sign up for an Octopus export tariff for that system.

tfhnota

The confusion arose because originally Octopus did not confine it to their own overpriced kit for export payments, a few people on here even had it confirmed by email than non-octopus kit would get the payment, But they later changed their mind. From their point of view they have an automated system via their app which does all the work re export number and G98 registration that is tied into their own kits. Probably going to be the same with their plug-in batteries next year. They are planning to do 10,000 free solar/battery installs for the welfare wallahs so all the extra dosh probably goes towards funding that, purchasers of their kit might get a badge for being good socialists, you never know.

Newbie_John

In summer I was able to cover big chunk of electricity with solar during 16-19, that has slowly shifted to end around 17:30 and now the clock change shifted it by 1h meaning no coverage during that period at all :)

Qyburn

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82183182#Comment_82183182

What orientation are your panels? For comparison ours are 191° and Summer generation at 19:00 is only around 1/4 of the middle of the day peak.

This is a good source for the sun's altitude and bearing, obviously looking for your own location..

https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/uk/birmingham

xflare

Remember all the newspaper reports about panels being for sale in Lidl and Iceland? lol

Newbie_John

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82183686#Comment_82183686

SW 900W, 45°

On 1st August I had 600W at 4pm and 200W at 7pm

On 5th Ocotber 500W at 4pm and 50W at 17:30

After clock change 20W at 4pm and panels went off at 16:40.

(I've picked sunny dates)