Plug-In Solar Panels
for UK Homes
Thunder Energy is one of the first UK companies installing compact solar on balconies, fences and gardens, with kits designed to plug straight into a standard household socket. Choose lightweight Storm kits for balconies and fences, or rigid Bolt panels for gardens and sheds.
Our Products
Our Plug-In Solar Range
Storm 360 W / 710 W | From £499.99
A compact plug-in solar kit with two/four lightweight flexible panels and a microinverter. Ideal for smaller balconies, fences or first-time solar users.
2 or 4 lightweight flexible panels
Microinverter with app monitoring
Total system weight: 10–17 kg
Generates up to 525 kWh/yr
Mounts on fences, balconies, shed walls
Save around £130 per year
Bolt 400 W / 900 W | From £549.99
400W / 900W solar kit with TopCon panel, microinverter and monitoring. Generates up to 820 kWh/year, saves around £205/year. Free UK delivery.
1 or 2 rigid mono TopCon glass panel
Microinverter with app monitoring
Panel weight ~15 - 30 kg
Generates up to 820 kWh/yr
For shed roofs, flat roofs and ground mounting
Save around £205 per year
Professional Installation | From £399.99
Add expert installation to any Thunder kit. We handle mounting, electrical connection, DNO notification and system testing across Greater London.
For any Storm or Bolt kit
Installation by qualified electricians
Fully UK compliant
G98 DNO notification
Available across Greater London
Understanding Plug-In Solar
How Does Thunder Do It?
Plug-in solar systems are compact solar panel kits designed to mount on balconies, fences, garden walls and other outdoor surfaces. They generate free electricity and feed it into your home, cutting the amount of power you draw from the grid.
Thunder has been installing compact solar on balconies, fences and garden walls under current UK regulations since before the plug-in announcement. We connect via a fused spur on a dedicated radial circuit, carried out by a qualified electrician. With UK plug-in standards arrive, our systems transition to socket connection.
Thunder's plug-in solar panels are already generating power for UK homes. Compliant and plug-in, to make solar simple.
How We Stack Up
How Thunder Compares
Thunder combines lightweight flexible kits, a purpose-built rigid garden panel and professional installation across Greater London, backed by real UK projects. Here is how that compares.
Panel format | Lightweight flexible | Rigid but light (~15 kg/panel) | Rigid (~22 kg/panel) | Mixed | Rigid glass |
System weight (as sold) | ~10 to 17 kg | ~15 to 30 kg | ~44 kg+ | ~20-40 kg+ | ~150 kg+ |
Peak output | 360W to 710W | 400W to 940W | 800W | 400W to 800W | 3 to 4 kW+ |
Plug-in ready | Yes | Yes | Yes | Varies | No |
Mounting surfaces | Fence, wall, balcony, shed | Garden, flat roof, shed roof, ground | Rigid, structural support needed | Mixed | Roof only |
Professional install (Greater London) | Included | Included | Not offered | Not offered | Separate |
UK Compliance | Yes | Yes | Yes | Mostly No | Yes |
Battery compatible | Yes (Vault) | Yes (Vault) | Yes | Mostly No | Yes |
Free UK delivery | Yes | Yes | Varies by retailer | Varies | n/a |
UK support and installation | Yes | Yes | Product only | No | Yes |
Feature
Thunder Storm (Flexible)
Thunder Bolt (Rigid)
EcoFlow
Generic Import Kit
Typical Rooftop
Our lightweight flexible panels weigh a third of conventional rigid glass modules, making them practical for fences, walls, balconies and surfaces where heavier systems simply cannot go.
Use Cases
Who Is Plug-In Solar For?
Flat Owners and Leaseholders
You have a balcony or terrace but no access to the building roof. Plug-in solar turns that unused space into a power source without any structural changes to the building.
Renters
No permanent modifications needed. When you move, you take the system with you. No landlord permission issues, no impact on your tenancy.
Homes with Unsuitable Roofs
Old roof, wrong orientation, structural concerns, listed building or shading problems. Mount panels on your garden fence or wall instead and start generating.
First-Time Solar Users
Try solar at low cost before committing to a full rooftop installation. A Storm 360W kit starts from £499 and pays for itself within a few years.
Home Workers
Offset your daytime electricity use with solar power generated right outside your window. Your laptop, monitor and router can run on free energy.
Outdoor Space Owners
Have a garden, shed roof or flat roof? Start with a single Bolt 400W rigid panel and easily expand your system later.
Tried. Loved. Shared.
What Our Customers Say
Join hundreds of happy Thunder customers generating their own clean energy.
CASE STUDY
Balcony Solar in North London
A new residential building in North London needed additional solar capacity to meet SAP compliance requirements. Rooftop space alone was not enough. Thunder designed and installed compact balcony-mounted solar systems across six flats, bringing the building into full compliance. The systems are now live and generating.
Plug-In Solar FAQs
Have questions? We’ve answered the most common ones to help you choose the right balcony solar system.
Yes, from 27 August 2026. The government signed the enabling regulations on 16 July 2026 (SI 2026/848), and they come into force on 27 August 2026. From that date, solar devices with a maximum rated AC output of 800W can be connected to a standard household socket, provided the product is certified to the government's Plug-in Solar Device Interim Product Specification. Before that date, the compliant route is a fixed connection by a qualified electrician, which is how Thunder installs today. Either way you can start generating now rather than waiting.
Not until 27 August 2026, when the new regulations take effect. Until then, the compliant route is a fused-spur connection on a dedicated radial circuit, fitted by a qualified electrician. Thunder kits are designed for socket connection, so systems installed now transition with minimal changes once the regulations are live. If you would rather start generating today than wait, a Thunder installation gets you there immediately.
Savings depend on your electricity tariff, how much energy you use during daylight hours, and how your panels are mounted. A Storm 710W kit on a vertical balcony or fence generates around 525 kWh in year one, worth about £130 at 25p per kWh, and roughly £3,276 over 20 years. A rigid Bolt 800W angle-mounted in a garden can generate around 820 kWh in year one, worth about £205. Angle and orientation make a large difference, so garden mounting at optimal tilt outperforms vertical fence mounting. Adding a Vault battery increases savings further by letting you use stored solar energy in the evening.
The regulations define a plug-in solar device as having a maximum rated AC output of no more than 800 watts, measured at the microinverter rather than at the panels. This matches the approach used in Germany and much of Europe. All Thunder kits, Storm (360W and 710W) and Bolt (400W and 800W), sit within this limit, because every kit uses a microinverter capped at 800W.
Not necessarily. Plug-in systems are designed to connect to a standard socket rather than needing a rewire. Many customers still choose our professional installation for the tidiest, safest result, especially for rigid Bolt panels or where a fixed connection is preferred. Either way, Thunder can handle all paperwork including G98 DNO notification.
Storm kits use lightweight flexible panels that hang on balconies, fences and walls, ideal where you cannot drill or add weight. Bolt kits use rigid aluminium-framed glass panels designed for gardens, shed roofs and flat roofs, where they can be angle-mounted for higher output. Both are plug-in ready, and both qualify for our professional installation. Choose Storm for vertical surfaces, Bolt for open outdoor space.
Most imported kits give you one option. Thunder gives you two: lightweight flexible Storm panels that weigh roughly a third of conventional rigid glass, for fences, walls and balconies that cannot take heavy panels, and rigid Bolt panels built for gardens, sheds and flat roofs, still far lighter than typical rigid modules. Beyond the hardware, Thunder offers professional installation across Greater London, handles your G98 DNO notification, provides PV system design based on your specific property, includes free UK delivery, and has completed real solar projects on UK homes. We are also the only compact solar company offering a full solar journey, from a 360W garden kit all the way to a full MCS-certified rooftop installation, so you can grow your system as your needs change.
No. We offer free UK delivery on all Storm and Bolt kits. Many rigid-panel suppliers add a pallet delivery charge on top of the headline price. With Thunder, the price you see includes delivery to your door.
Storm flexible panels go on garden fences, balcony railings, shed walls, garage walls, garden walls and any solid sun-facing exterior surface. They are lightweight, conform to slight curves, and are secured with straps, hooks or screws depending on the surface. Bolt rigid panels are designed for gardens, shed roofs, flat roofs and ground mounting, where the angle bracket lets you tilt them towards the sun for higher output. A detailed installation guide is included with every kit.
Yes. Thunder has completed a project in North London where balcony-mounted solar systems helped a new residential building achieve SAP compliance when rooftop capacity alone was insufficient. Compact solar is relevant not only for bill savings but also for property developers working under the Future Homes Standard, which requires most new homes to include on-site renewable generation from 2028.
In most cases, no. Compact solar panels mounted on fences, walls, balconies and in gardens typically fall within permitted development rights. Restrictions may apply for listed buildings or properties in conservation areas. Check with your local planning authority if you are unsure.
You start generating electricity immediately with a compliant installation. When the plug-in standards take effect, your Thunder system can be converted to a socket connection if you prefer, or you can continue using the existing setup. Your panels and microinverter remain exactly the same. There is no wasted investment.
Yes. Thunder systems are designed to be portable. Storm panels are lightweight and mount with straps or brackets that can be removed without damaging the surface, and Bolt panels are freestanding or bracket-mounted rather than built into the property. When plug-in regulations are in effect, taking your system to a new home will be as simple as unplugging it.
Unbox the Future of
Home Solar
Thunder on Skillbuilder
Start Generating Solar Power Today
You do not need to wait for plug-in regulations to start saving on your energy bills. Thunder systems are available now, fully compliant, and already generating power on real homes in London. Choose your path:
Option A
Add professional installation to your Storm or Bolt kit for £399. Kit, electrician, wiring and DNO notification all handled.
Option B
Buy a Storm kit (from £499.99) or a Bolt kit (from £549.99) and set it up yourself.