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PatioSun Plug-In Solar Review: Prices, Models & Who It Suits
This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This does not influence our recommendations — we call out weaknesses as plainly as strengths.
PatioSun is a new UK brand built for exactly one thing: selling certified plug-in solar to ordinary people. It registered six compliant models on the ENA G98 Type Test Register on 1 September 2026 and sells them through a normal consumer shop, with prices on the page and no trade account, starting at £449.
That puts it in a small group. Of the 21 manufacturers with compliant Plug-in Solar listings (30 September 2026), only City Plumbing, UKSOL, Perlight (through a retailer), PatioSun, Octopus Energy and PowerXpress (through Screwfix) have a consumer-facing page with retail prices that we could actually check. The rest are trade and distributor listings.
Last checked: 18 September 2026. Register figures pulled from the ENA API; prices read from patiosun.co.uk the same day.
Our certified kit finder searches all 72 register records by brand or model — useful with a new brand, where the shop and the register do not always use identical names.
Quick Facts - Register status: 6 compliant Plug-in Solar listings (18 September 2026), all registered at 0.8 kW, published 1 September - On sale: 4 of the 6 — Lite, Lite PLUS, Duo and Max - Price range: £449–£749 inc VAT, direct from PatioSun - Aimed at: patios, gardens and balconies, which is unusual — most certified kits are ground-mount or trade products - Battery: none, which is what keeps the kits inside the socket route - Notification: register at myplugin.solar, about two minutes
The Short Answer
PatioSun is the most consumer-friendly way into certified plug-in solar: a straightforward shop, four kits, clear prices, and hardware aimed at the places people actually want to put panels. The Lite at £449 is the cheapest certified single-panel kit sold direct to the public that we have found.
It is not the cheapest certified electricity — City Plumbing's two-panel DMEGC 930W is £444 and generates roughly twice as much as the Lite. And PatioSun is a new brand with no track record, which is a real consideration when the warranty is the main thing you are buying beyond the panels.
The Range
| Kit | Price inc VAT | On the register | How PatioSun positions it |
|---|---|---|---|
| PatioSun Lite | £449.00 | Yes | The entry kit, compact spaces |
| PatioSun Lite PLUS | £470.00 | Yes | "More panel power for compact spaces" |
| PatioSun Duo | £699.00 | Yes | The two-panel mainstream kit |
| PatioSun Max | £749.00 | Yes | "Reliable energy, even in shade" |
| PatioSun Duo+ | Not on sale | Yes | Registered 1 September, no shop listing |
| PatioSun Max+ | Not on sale | Yes | Registered 1 September, no shop listing |
All six register entries carry a registered capacity of 0.8 kW — the AC output cap, not panel DC watts. PatioSun does not publish full panel and inverter specifications on its product pages, which is the main information gap in the range: you cannot tell from the shop how many DC watts a Lite PLUS carries over a Lite, or which microinverter is fitted.
The "even in shade" claim on the Max is the sort of thing that usually means panel-level optimisation or a higher DC-to-AC ratio. Without published specs we cannot say which, and it is worth asking before paying the £50 premium over the Duo.
What It Saves
A south-facing 800W system in London generates roughly 860 kWh a year, worth about £170 at the October 2026 Ofgem cap of 26.32p/kWh with 75% self-consumption. A single-panel kit is roughly half that.
| Kit | Price | Rough annual saving | Simple payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lite | £449 | ~£85 | ~5.3 years |
| Lite PLUS | £470 | ~£90 | ~5.2 years |
| Duo | £699 | ~£170 | ~4.1 years |
| Max | £749 | ~£170–180 | ~4.3 years |
These are estimates from the registered capacity and the typical generation for a south-facing London install, not from published panel specs — treat them as a range, not a quote. The pattern is the same as everywhere else in this market: two-panel kits pay back faster than single-panel ones, because the inverter and mounting cost roughly the same either way.
Orientation and how much of the day you are home move these numbers far more than the kit does. Our payback calculator takes both.
The Legal Position
All six PatioSun entries are Plug-in Solar device-type listings marked compliant — the status that carries the socket self-install route created by SI 2026/848 on 27 August 2026.
- Plug into a standard 13A socket yourself; no electrician, no Part P
- Register at myplugin.solar within 28 days — roughly two minutes, no MPAN or datasheet needed
- One plug-in solar device per household, 800W maximum
If you buy the Duo+ or Max+ through some other channel, check the model code matches the register entry exactly. A brand being listed does not make every product it sells listed.
The G98 / DNO checker confirms whether you register at myplugin.solar or file a full G98, and finds your network operator by postcode.
Where It Falls Short
No published specifications. Panel wattage, inverter model, panel dimensions and warranty length are not on the product pages. For a balcony install, dimensions are not optional information — measure your railing before ordering, and ask.
A brand with no history. PatioSun's first register entries are dated 1 September 2026. A ten-year warranty from a company that is weeks old is worth less than the same words from UKSOL or a national merchant, and that is a fair thing to weigh at this price.
Two registered models you cannot buy. Duo+ and Max+ are certified but absent from the shop.
No battery and no storage path. Standard for the socket route: adding an integrated battery moves the system out of myplugin.solar and into a full G98 notification.
PatioSun vs the Alternatives
| Cheapest kit | Cheapest 2-panel | Sold direct | Balcony-oriented | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PatioSun | £449 | £699 | Yes | Yes |
| City Plumbing | £336 | £444 | Yes | No — generic mounts |
| UKSOL | £599 | £849 | Yes | Hybrid mount variants only |
| Perlight PowerPlug | £588 | £798 | Via Plug In Solar | Via FLEX+ mounting |
PatioSun sits in the middle: more expensive than the trade route, cheaper than the established solar brands, and the only one of the four whose product design starts from a patio or balcony rather than a field.
Verdict
Best for: a first certified kit for a patio or balcony, bought without a trade account or a spec sheet
Not for: buyers who want published specs, a long brand track record, or the lowest cost per kWh
6 compliant listings, 4 on sale · £449–£749 inc VAT · checked 18 September 2026
PatioSun is doing the thing the certified market has mostly failed to do: selling compliant kits to consumers, in a shop, at a visible price. The Duo at £699 is the kit most people should look at. Ask for the panel dimensions and the inverter model before you order — and if the answer is slow in coming, that tells you something too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is PatioSun certified for plug-in installation in the UK? A: Yes. All six PatioSun models are listed compliant on the ENA G98 Type Test Register under the Plug-in Solar device type, published 1 September 2026. That is the status that allows socket self-installation. Check your exact model in our certified kit finder.
Q: How much does a PatioSun kit cost? A: £449 for the Lite, £470 for the Lite PLUS, £699 for the Duo and £749 for the Max, all inclusive of VAT, direct from patiosun.co.uk as at 18 September 2026.
Q: What is the difference between the PatioSun Duo and Max? A: PatioSun markets the Max on shade tolerance rather than raw output, and both are registered at the same 0.8 kW AC cap. Detailed panel and inverter specifications are not published, so ask before paying the £50 difference.
Q: Can PatioSun panels be fitted to a balcony railing? A: The range is marketed for patios, gardens and balconies, which is more than most certified kits claim. Panel dimensions are not published, so measure your railing and confirm with PatioSun before ordering. See How to Install Balcony Solar Panels.
Q: Do I need to notify my DNO with a PatioSun kit? A: Yes, within 28 days — but via the two-minute myplugin.solar registration rather than a full G98 form, because the kits are on the register and socket-connected. See the DNO & G98 notification guide.
Q: Is PatioSun better value than City Plumbing? A: Not on cost per kWh. City Plumbing's two-panel DMEGC 930W is £444 against PatioSun's £699 Duo for broadly equivalent output. PatioSun's case is consumer-oriented hardware, a simpler buying experience and mounting aimed at patios and balconies.