Control Your Energy

Solar panels contain photovoltaic (PV) cells made from silicon. When sunlight hits them, it knocks electrons loose, creating a flow of direct current (DC) electricity. On its own, DC power can't run your kettle — your home runs on alternating current (AC) at 230V/50Hz.

That's where the micro-inverter comes in. Built into every plug-and-play kit, it converts the panel's DC output into 230V AC electricity in real time. Plug the inverter into a standard socket, and the power flows straight onto your home's circuit — your appliances draw from it first, before pulling anything from the grid. Your meter effectively runs slower (or backwards on a smart meter with SEG enabled).

Payback period depends on your kit size, your electricity tariff, how much you self-consume, and whether you add a battery. As a general guide:

400W balcony kit (no battery) — £299: Generates around 300–380 kWh/year in the UK. At 25p/kWh self-consumed, that's £75–£95/year saved. Payback: 3–4 years.

800W garden kit + 2.5 kWh battery — £699: Generation rises to 600–750 kWh/year. With improved self-consumption from the battery, savings of £180–£240/year are realistic. Payback: 3–4 years.

1200W rooftop kit + 5 kWh battery — £999: At 25p/kWh and high self-consumption, savings of £280–£360/year. Payback: 3–4 years.

Yes — solar panels generate power from daylight, not direct sunshine. Even on a heavily overcast UK day, panels typically produce 10–25% of their rated output. On a bright but cloudy day, output can reach 50–80%.

The panels we stock use monocrystalline silicon with high-efficiency cells rated for low-irradiance performance — specifically selected because UK annual irradiance averages around 1,000–1,200 kWh/m², lower than southern Europe but still economically viable at current energy prices.

Yes. Plug-and-play solar systems are legal in the UK under Engineering Recommendation G98, which governs the connection of small-scale generators (up to 3.68kW single-phase) to the distribution network. For systems below 800W, many installers operate under a simplified self-notification process — in some cases, no formal notification is required at all.

Our kits are designed to comply with G98 from the outset. Every micro-inverter includes automatic anti-islanding protection, which shuts the system off instantly if the grid goes down — a legal requirement that protects engineers working on power lines.

It depends on the size of your system. Under G98, systems up to 3.68kW require notification to your DNO — but this is a notification, not an application for approval. You inform them after installation, not before. They don't get a veto.

For very small systems under 800W, the regulatory position is less clear-cut and many households proceed without formal notification, treating the inverter like a plug-in appliance. We recommend notifying in all cases for peace of mind — and we help you do it as part of our onboarding process.

Your DNO is the company that owns the power lines in your area (e.g. UK Power Networks, Northern Powergrid, Western Power Distribution). It's different from your energy supplier.

Yes, and in fact a smart meter makes the system work better. A SMETS2 smart meter (the current standard in UK homes) records both import and export in half-hour intervals. When your solar panel generates more than you're using at that moment, the surplus is logged as an export — and if you're registered with the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), your energy supplier will pay you for it.

If you add a home battery (like the Zendure SolarFlow or Marstek Venus), you can store that surplus instead of exporting it, using it later when the panels aren't generating. A smart energy monitor like the Everhome EcoTracker lets the battery know in real time exactly how much power your home is drawing, so it can discharge precisely what's needed — no waste, no over-export.

For safety reasons, standard grid-tied inverters (including most plug-and-play units) shut down automatically when the grid goes down — this is the anti-islanding protection described above. So a basic plug-and-play solar kit will not power your home during a blackout.

However, some battery systems in our range — specifically the Marstek Venus E and Zendure SolarFlow 2400 AC — include a backup output socket that switches over in milliseconds (20ms or less) during a power cut, independent of the grid. Devices plugged into this socket continue running on battery power through the outage.

Yes, with LFP chemistry batteries (which all our systems use). LFP cells do not produce toxic or flammable off-gassing under normal operation and have a stable electrochemical structure that resists thermal runaway — the failure mode behind most lithium battery fire incidents, which typically occur in NMC or NCA batteries under abuse conditions.

The Marstek Venus E and Zendure SolarFlow battery modules are both IP65-rated (dust-tight and jet-water resistant), operate across a wide temperature range (–20°C to +55°C), and include multi-layer battery management systems (BMS) that monitor cell voltage, temperature, and current in real time, shutting the system down if any parameter goes outside safe limits.

They are designed and certified for indoor domestic installation — living rooms, utility rooms, garages, and hallways are all appropriate locations.

No — since February 2024, the UK government extended its 0% VAT relief to include standalone battery storage systems, making batteries eligible for zero VAT whether purchased alongside solar panels or independently as a retrofit.

Solar panels and their associated equipment (mounting hardware, inverters, cables) have carried 0% VAT since April 2022. This relief applies to residential installations and is set to remain in place until March 2027, after which the standard 20% rate would reapply unless extended.