Best UK balcony solar kits — 2026 honest picks
1. EcoFlow STREAM
Most UK availability Storage option ~£700–£1,000 with panels
EcoFlow has by far the deepest UK distribution among balcony solar brands in 2026. The STREAM line is the company’s plug-in solar play — AC-coupled, app-controlled, with optional add-on battery. Inverter output respects the 800W cap. Good fit if you want a polished, brand-supported install and don’t mind paying for it.
- Inverter cap: 800W AC (respects UK rule).
- Optional bolt-on storage (STREAM Ultra battery, additional ~£400–£600).
- App: route excess into a battery, schedule discharge into evening peak.
- UK stock: strong. Available via Amazon UK and direct from EcoFlow UK.
2. Anker SOLIX Solarbank 2
Watch — check UK stock Storage ~£600–£900 storage unit
Anker’s Solarbank 2 is the headline AC-coupled balcony battery. Charges from panels during the day, discharges into the household at night to maximise self-consumption. Mature firmware, decent app, but UK Amazon stock has been intermittent — the easier path is often the German Amazon (amazon.de) with EU shipping, which is fine for a UK buyer.
- Battery: 1.6 kWh modular (stackable).
- Pairs with any 800W AC microinverter or sold as a kit with one.
- UK stock: intermittent — check Amazon UK before ordering; Amazon DE often has it.
- App: time-of-use schedules, real-time monitoring.
3. Zendure SolarFlow 800
Watch — check UK stock Storage ~£500–£800 + panels
SolarFlow 800 is Zendure’s direct competitor to the Solarbank. Smaller modular AB1000/AB2000 batteries, neat enclosure, strong app. UK distribution is shallower than EcoFlow but better than it was last year.
- Battery: AB1000 (960Wh) or AB2000 (1.92 kWh), modular.
- AC output respects 800W cap.
- UK stock: improving but verify before buying.
4. APsystems EZ1-M (microinverter only)
Cheapest compliant route ~£120 + panels
If you want the simplest, lowest-cost compliant install, an APsystems EZ1-M microinverter paired with one or two 400–500W panels is unbeatable on price. The EZ1-M is a well-known European balcony solar workhorse: anti-islanding, EN-certified, Bluetooth monitoring. Pair with a CPS-registered electrician’s hardwire install today, or a compliant plug-in kit once the BSI standard lands.
- Inverter only — bring your own panel(s).
- 800W max output (model: EZ1-M-800).
- EN-certified anti-islanding.
- UK stock: available via Amazon UK and specialist resellers.
5. Hoymiles HMS-800
Budget microinverter ~£107 + panels
Direct competitor to the EZ1-M, similar spec, often a few pounds cheaper. Hoymiles is a major OEM behind several branded kits, so spares and replacement parts are easy to find. WiFi monitoring (Hoymiles S-Miles cloud).
- 800W AC output (HMS-800W-T2).
- 2 MPPT inputs — you can wire two panels of different orientation.
- Anti-islanding compliant.
- UK stock: available via Amazon UK and specialist resellers.
How to pick
Cheapest fully-compliant 800W install (budget < £400): APsystems EZ1-M or Hoymiles HMS-800 microinverter + one 400–500W panel + electrician hardwire + G98. Realistic total: £300–£500 including labour.
Mainstream, polished, UK-supported (£700–£1,000): EcoFlow STREAM kit + small panel + electrician + G98. Easier app experience, brand-backed UK support.
Storage today (£1,000–£1,500): EcoFlow STREAM Ultra (with battery), Anker SOLIX Solarbank 2, or Zendure SolarFlow 800. Pushes payback past 5–6 years but lets you time-shift solar into the evening peak (much more useful in the UK with our long evenings).
What about “wait until July 2026 for true plug-and-play”? That’s a defensible choice. If you can wait 1–3 months, the BSI product standard should mean “buy on Amazon, plug in, file G98” becomes the legal default. If you want the savings now and have a flat in a high-rate region (most of England & Wales is on the ~27p/kWh cap), the hardwire route gives you the same savings starting today.