Build a balcony solar kit around the Fastensol balcony bracket. Choose panels that fit it, pair them with Sigenergy, Atmoce or Enphase micro inverters, and see what it will cost and generate. Prices and stock come straight from our shop. For a shed, garden office or caravan, switch to the off-grid tab.
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For winter use, a steeper tilt (40–45°) catches more of the low sun.
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Cable lugs, a battery fuse and an isolator are sized to your cable run. Our team will confirm them with your quote.
Need more power? See the complete 1–5 kW off-grid systems and the TBB 48 V scalable systems.
Plug-in solar in Great Britain
Since 27 August 2026 you can connect a solar device to a normal 13 A socket. The device has to be a certified plug-in product. To count, it must:
- be a complete, factory-made product that meets the government's Plug-in Solar Device Interim Product Specification
- output no more than 800 VA, through a moulded BS 1363 plug
- be type-tested and listed on the ENA Type Test Register
- have no battery: plug-in batteries and battery-integrated kits are outside the plug-in rules
- be the only plug-in device in your home, under current G98 rules
- be notified to your network operator (G98) when you connect and when you disconnect
Why our kits are fixed-wired
A kit built from separate panels, micro inverters and cables is not a plug-in device, however good the parts are. It is connected the long-established way: an electrician wires it to its own circuit and notifies your network operator under G98.
Going fixed-wired gives you freedom the plug-in rules don't:
- more than 800 W of output
- more than one panel group
- an AC-coupled battery
- a single connection your insurer and landlord can see was done properly
Read the official Plug-in Solar Device Interim Product Specification (gov.uk, PDF). Rules can change, so check before you buy any plug-in device.
Balcony solar in the UK: plug-in or fixed-wired?
"Balcony solar" covers two different things in the UK. Since 27 August 2026, certified plug-in solar devices of up to 800 VA can go into an ordinary socket, provided your network operator is notified. Everything else, including kits you put together from separate parts, is fixed-wired: an electrician connects it and notifies your operator under G98, the same process used for rooftop solar.
| Certified plug-in device | Fixed-wired micro-inverter kit | |
|---|---|---|
| Connection | 13 A socket, BS 1363 plug | Own circuit, wired by an electrician |
| Maximum output | 800 VA | Set by G98 and your supply, well above 800 VA for most homes |
| Battery | Not allowed under the plug-in rules | AC-coupled battery possible |
| Devices per home | One, under current G98 rules | Designed as one system |
| Network notification | G98, on connection and disconnection | G98, done by your installer |
| Parts | One factory-complete product | Choose your own panels, inverters and mounting |
Renting or in a flat? Get written permission from your landlord, freeholder or managing agent before fixing anything to a balcony or outside wall. Listed buildings and conservation areas have extra rules, so check with your council first.
Will it fit your balcony?
The Fastensol Balcony Mounting Kit 2.0 carries one framed panel. It hooks onto metal railings without drilling them, and the same frame bolts to brick or concrete walls or stands on the ground. The builder checks these limits for you:
| Panel size | Up to 2384 × 1134 mm, framed panels only |
|---|---|
| Panel weight | Up to 35 kg |
| Railings | Round or square tube up to 72 mm, steel, aluminium or concrete structure, with no corrosion, cracks or movement |
| Walls | Solid brick or concrete, fixed with the supplied M8 × 80 expansion bolts. Never use hollow bricks, plasterboard, insulated render, hollow tiles or lightweight partitions. |
| Height | Up to 15 m recommended and 20 m maximum. Above 15 m, the wind load has to be checked for your site. Coastal, exposed or isolated tall buildings need an engineer's check. |
| Tilt | 15° to 45° |
Lifting a panel over a railing needs two people, and the safety wire ropes must be attached before you let go. Inspect the fixings every year and after storms.
Choosing panels for a balcony
The 54-cell, 1762 × 1134 mm panel class fits a balcony best. It is short enough to sit along most railings, light enough for two people to lift, and well inside the bracket's limits. We have matched each panel's electrical figures to the micro inverters, allowing for UK temperatures from −10 °C to hot summer days:
| Panel | Size and weight | Micro-inverter kit | Off-grid kit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aiko Neostar 3P+ 485 W | 1762 × 1134 × 30 mm | Best match: its working voltage sits in the middle of the inverter's tracking range | Yes |
| JA Solar 450 W all-black | 1762 × 1134 × 30 mm, 22 kg | Yes. All-black looks best on a façade. Output dips slightly on very hot days. | Yes |
| Trinasolar Vertex S+ 465 W | 1762 × 1134 × 30 mm, 21 kg | Not recommended: in a cold snap its voltage reaches the 60 V input limit of micro inverters | Yes, the lightest and lowest-cost option |
Micro inverters for balcony solar
A micro inverter turns each panel's output into mains electricity right at the panel, so the cable that leaves the balcony carries AC. The DC side stays below 60 V. Shading on one panel doesn't pull down the others. The builder offers three brands, and adds each brand's own cables and fittings automatically:
| Brand | Models | Working voltage | Parts added for you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sigenergy SigenMicro | 400 and 500 VA for one panel; 800 and 1000 VA for two | 16–60 V, so it suits a wide range of panels | AC trunk cable for each inverter, a terminator for the branch and the unlock tool. It has built-in energy management, so no gateway is needed. |
| Enphase IQ9N and IQ8 | IQ9N 427 VA (our pick), IQ8HC 384 VA and IQ8AC 366 VA, one panel each | 28–45 V on the IQ9N, which fits 54-cell balcony panels well | IQ Cable for each inverter, a terminator and the IQ Gateway. The gateway commissions the system, and the 25-year warranty needs it online. |
| Atmoce MI series | 450 and 500 VA for one panel; 900 and 1000 VA for two | Best tracking from about 30–33 V to 55 V | M-Cable for each inverter, an end cap and the system controller, which the inverters need before they will switch on |
The SigenMicro 800 is a neat match for two balcony panels: its 800 VA output matches the size of a typical balcony system. Larger models give more headroom on bright days. Over 800 VA is fine for a fixed-wired system, but it is one reason a kit like this could never be a plug-in device.
Adding a battery
A balcony system produces most of its power around midday, when many homes use little. An AC-coupled battery stores that surplus for the evening, which typically lifts the share you use yourself from around 60% to 90%. With Atmoce inverters you can add the Atmoce M-ELV 7 kWh battery. For Sigenergy storage, use our solar kit builder. A battery only works on the fixed-wired route, because the plug-in rules exclude storage.
Seven kWh is large next to a one- or two-panel balcony system, which might average 1 to 3 kWh a day in summer. It makes most sense if you also charge it on a cheap overnight tariff, or plan to add panels later.
Off-grid and flexible fixing
If you don't want to connect to the grid at all, the same Fastensol frame works for a stand-alone system. You can bolt it to the wall of a shed, garage or garden office, or stand it on a terrace or flat roof. The panel charges a 12 V battery through a Victron SmartSolar MPPT charge controller. Add a Victron EasySolar if you want 230 V sockets: it combines the inverter, charger and a 100/50 MPPT in one unit.
- Lithium (LiFePO4) batteries last far longer than gel or AGM. Heated models such as the Pylontech 12 V 100 Ah and TBB Power 105 Ah can still charge in an unheated shed in winter.
- Off-grid systems don't connect to the network, so there is no G98 notification. Battery and DC wiring still need correct fusing and isolation.
- Winter output in the UK can be a fifth of summer output. Size the battery and panels for the darkest month you will use the system.
Browse the full off-grid solar kits and off-grid batteries ranges.
How much will a balcony solar kit generate?
As a rule of thumb, a well-placed south-facing panel in the UK produces roughly 0.9 kWh a year for every watt of panel at a good tilt. East or west costs about 20%, and a north-facing balcony is rarely worthwhile. The builder uses these factors for its estimate. For a figure specific to your address, use the EU's free PVGIS calculator.
Savings come from the electricity you use as it is generated. Without MCS certification, which balcony kits usually lack, most suppliers won't pay for exported power under the Smart Export Guarantee. The builder therefore values only the share you use yourself.
Kit builder or ready-made kit?
Ready-made 800 W balcony kits sold by DIY retailers bundle two panels, an inverter and cables. They are convenient, but you take whatever parts they include. Building with us means you choose the panel brand and finish, the inverter size and the mounting. You can add a battery or monitoring, and buy everything from one supplier with an installer route that keeps it compliant.
Balcony solar FAQs
Can I plug a balcony solar kit into a normal socket?
Only if it is a certified plug-in solar device of up to 800 VA, with a moulded UK plug and a listing on the ENA Type Test Register. You must also notify your network operator. Kits assembled from separate parts, including the ones built here, must be wired in by an electrician.
Do I need permission to fit solar panels to my balcony?
If you rent or own a leasehold flat, you will need written consent from the landlord, freeholder or managing agent. Small balcony and wall systems are generally permitted development, but listed buildings and conservation areas have extra restrictions, so check with your council.
Can I add a battery to a balcony solar system?
Yes, on a fixed-wired system. AC-coupled storage such as the Atmoce 7 kWh battery can store midday surplus for the evening. Batteries are not allowed with plug-in solar devices.
What size solar panel fits a balcony railing?
The Fastensol balcony bracket takes framed panels up to 2384 × 1134 mm and 35 kg, on round or square railings up to 72 mm. Standard 54-cell panels of 1762 × 1134 mm suit most balconies.
How much electricity does a balcony solar panel produce in the UK?
A 450–485 W panel facing south at a good tilt can produce roughly 400 kWh a year. Shading, an east or west aspect, or a flat vertical mounting reduces that. Use the kit builder above for an estimate based on your balcony.
Can I use the same mounting kit for an off-grid shed or garden office?
Yes. The Fastensol frame bolts to solid brick or concrete walls and also suits ground or terrace mounting. Pair it with a Victron MPPT charge controller and a 12 V lithium battery for a stand-alone system with no grid connection.
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Last reviewed: October 2026. Product specifications are taken from manufacturer datasheets. Prices are shown inc. VAT and may change; your basket shows the current price.