I just did a full solar install instead of waiting for plug-in solar in the
UK here's why

Date:
Sat, 22 Aug 2026 12:00:30 +0000

Description:
I'm loving my solar panels, battery and gateway setup so far, although admittedly it's still early days.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter I live in Scotland and just got my solar install up and running a few days ago. While it's obviously still very early days, I'm really happy with how it's all going so far and with my decision to go for a full panel and battery system.

Was I tempted to wait for plug-in solar when the news filtered through
earlier this year that this option was to become officially available with kits in the UK? No, because I wanted a full solar setup for a few reasons
that I'll detail here along with my initial thoughts on how my system is working (although I've already dropped a spoiler on that). That's not to say plug-in solar isn't going to be a good choice for some, of course it
promises to provides a low-hassle route into electricity bill savings for renters and those with limited roof space. But it has distinct limitations compared to a full solar array. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:

So, here are the main reasons why I wanted that full setup a bank of 15 roof-mounted panels, a battery, and a gateway after which I'll come back to the merits of plug-in solutions. 1. Staying put with a south-facing roof (Image credit: Darren Allan) A full solar setup with an array of panels plus
a beefy battery (in my case, a Tesla Powerwall 3 with a 13.5kWh capacity) is, of course, a considerable financial commitment for homeowners. You may like Solar panels you can plug straight into a wall are almost here but are they worth it? Plug in baby: why plug-in solar is going to be huge for UK homes Plug-in solar panels and home battery installations are spreading in the US

It's much easier to make that commitment if you know that you'll be living in the house for a long time, as in that case, year by year, you'll make your money back in electricity savings (eventually, or that's the hope).

I'm intending to stay put in my current house for 10 to 15 years, and towards the latter end of the scale, the solar should pay for itself, due to a combination of savings on my electric bill (which will effectively be hardly anything going forward, save for the standing charge for having a grid connection) and selling spare energy back to the grid (solar export). Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

I may be in the house for even longer, and at that point, it's just free electric, which is obviously a nice thought (especially if utility bills keep on increasing in the way they have been). My house is ideal for solar, having a near-south-facing roof and no shading issues so given my plan to stay long-term, it seemed crazy not to get a solar array, really. The only issue was saving up to pay for it (which admittedly took quite some time).

It was a very cool moment when the mains switch was flipped off and our house carried on fully powered, just as normal. As for the rough math of what I'm saving with solar, based on some very limited data thus far (just a few
days), it's a saving of closing on 500 per year (around $680 / AU$950) in electric bill reductions, and approximately 400 (about $550 / AU$760) in export earnings. The latter is a rougher figure, but it should hopefully pan out or thereabouts for a total of something like 900 (or $1,230 / AU$1,710) in terms of annual gain.

What's been interesting is that I'm really surprised how much solar
generation I get when it's cloudy. I can still hit 1kWh or even closer to
2kWh of power from the panels on a normal kind of cloudy day. What to read next Why plug-in batteries are the next money-saving 'game changer' for homes Solar energy sets new UK record as plug-in solar kits head for shelves First plug-in solar kits get regulatory green light in UK

Even with what I consider to be pretty thick cloud and rain (yes, the
Scottish summer in the north of the country has been quite different to the English one), I'm still generating enough to power my baseline house needs (0.3kWh), meaning general operation when no larger appliances are switched on (especially the dreaded kettle).

Of course, I'd read up on modern panels and knew they performed better in cloudy conditions, but I wasn't expecting them to be this good. 2. Working from home factor (Image credit: Darren Allan) I work from home writing articles for TechRadar (alongside other freelance), and my wife works from home, too. So having a house with full off-grid capability was important to
us as a result, and this is something you only get with a solar array
combined with a battery, and a gateway is needed too.

The gateway allows for the solar to run independently off the grid (in
'island mode' with its own earthing rod), so if the mains power goes off completely, the house will keep running under its own steam.

This means if there's a power outage, the house is still running off solar (and the battery), and we both still have power for our computers and so on. We can keep on working without disruption (an additional financial gain in this event). Note that without a gateway, you won't be able to run off solar in a power cut the solar inverter will shut itself off when it detects the grid has gone out (for safety reasons).

When the installing electrician tested the system, he had me switch on all
the ceiling lights in the living room. It was a very cool moment when the mains switch was flipped off and our house carried on fully powered, just as normal, with the solar system kicking in so quickly that the lights didn't even flicker in the slightest.

My decision to go for the off-grid running capability was also influenced by
a degree of looking to the future. Now, I admit this may sound a bit 'tinfoil hat', but I don't think it's inconceivable that there could be hiccups with the national grid in the UK (or elsewhere perhaps) as the years roll on. Whether that might be infrastructure related problems, geopolitical issues
and wider energy security concerns, or the likes of hackers, I don't think it's unwise to have a degree of energy independence.

Granted, I don't believe that major-scale disruption is at all likely, but it doesn't hurt to have an insurance policy against the prospect of more regular power outages, especially when both our livelihoods depend on being able to work from home.

The gateway made my system about 10% more expensive roughly maybe a bit less actually, I don't know for sure as the labor costs weren't broken down on my installation invoice but I think that was a price worth paying. 3. Environmental benefits (Image credit: NASA/Reid Wiseman) This is likely true of everyone adopting solar of any kind but it feels good to be contributing to the drive for renewables and green energy.

More broadly on the eco-friendly front, I'm also planning to buy an electric car as my next vehicle (possibly even a campervan, although that might have
to wait until further into the future), and using solar to charge the vehicle at home (which obviously requires a full solar system). Plug-in solar has its place (Image credit: Getty Images / Sean Gallup) I appreciate that a lot of what I've covered here is subjective and pertains to my specific situation, and of course your scenario or needs may be very different.

You may not have a home that's suitable for solar panels at all (due to the roof size, shape or orientation or you might live in a flat), or you may be renting, or not have the desire to commit to the expense of a full-on setup.

This is where plug-in solar steps in as a great scaled-down alternative: it's a lot easier to find space for (in a garden, on a balcony), and it's a way more affordable solution that still offers some substantial savings. A
typical payback time (when the setup has paid for itself) is expected to be three to five years , though that depends on the cost of the first plug-in solar kits . And if you're renting, you can take it with you should you
decide to move.

One major drawback for now is not being allowed to hook up your plug-in
panels to a battery for solar storage (without professional installation, at least), but that may well change in the future if plug-in batteries become legalized . Also, you can't receive payment for excess energy you can't use
in the home being exported back to the grid, as you can with a full solar panel installation (and a smart meter).

Plug-in solar could still be a great alternative for you, though, and if you're in the UK like me, the systems become legal on August 27 , and kits that comply with the regulations set out by the government will be appearing on shelves thereafter.

Plug-in solar is already legal in other countries, notably Germany and other places in Europe, as well as some states in the US, so the DIY alternative to my setup is very much gaining momentum. But each approach still has its own distinct advantages and drawbacks, and that will continue to be the case
after August 27. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/home/smart-home/i-just-did-a-full-solar-install-inst ead-of-waiting-for-plug-in-solar-in-the-uk-heres-why


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