£299 solar kit launched for UK homes with expandable options

A new, low-cost solar kit is now available for purchase online, offering UK homeowners a potential way to reduce electricity bills. The kit, priced at £299, includes a 400-watt solar panel, a micro inverter, and necessary connectors and fixtures, designed for simple installation on a balcony, shed roof, or fence.

The system is intended to generate electricity to cover a household's "base load," the constant power used by appliances like refrigerators and internet routers. On a sunny day, this can mean drawing zero energy from the national grid for those essential devices, though larger appliances like kettles or air fryers would still require grid power.

Currently, legal requirements in the UK mandate that such systems be wired into a home's consumer unit by a qualified electrician. However, proposed legislative changes could simplify the process, potentially allowing panels to be plugged directly into a wall socket in the future.

The setup is expandable, with options to add more panels, a larger inverter, or a battery for energy storage, though costs increase with these additions. The same supplier offers a two-panel system for £459 and a four-panel, 1,600-watt kit for £799,...