I should probably come clean about something. I started Solar Plugin UK to help people understand plug-in solar — the rules, the costs, the products, how it all works. What I did not anticipate was how much material my own attempts to actually get a system installed would provide.
It has not been straightforward. Here is exactly what has happened so far, because I think it is useful for anyone else trying to navigate the same process right now.
The EcoFlow order that went nowhere
On 25 April I ordered an EcoFlow STREAM Series Solar Plant. EcoFlow is the government’s named technology partner for the UK plug-in solar rollout, they make arguably the best-known plug-in solar product on the UK market right now, and I wanted to test the whole experience firsthand.
After placing the order, nothing happened. No shipping confirmation, no order update, no contact at all.
I called customer support. I was told the solar panels were delayed but would be back in stock the following day. That seemed reasonable enough, so I waited.
Nothing arrived. No update.
I called again a week later. This time I was told stock was not expected until late June. That is two months after my original order date, with no proactive communication in between. I cancelled.
The refund notice told me my money would be returned within 7 to 14 business days. Which, frankly, is not a great end to a purchasing experience with a brand that is supposed to be leading the mainstream rollout of this technology in the UK.
I want to be fair to EcoFlow here. The wider supply chain picture is genuinely difficult right now — China removed its solar panel export rebate on 1 April 2026 and component costs have been rising across the board. Demand for plug-in solar in the UK has also ramped up faster than anyone expected following the government announcement in March. These are real pressures. But the lack of any proactive communication during a weeks-long delay is hard to excuse, and it will put a lot of buyers off.
The installer who lost interest, then found it again
While waiting for EcoFlow to sort its stock situation, I contacted a local solar company about getting panels fitted. Not plug-in — I was also exploring a full rooftop installation and wanted to understand what was involved.
The conversation started promisingly. Then I mentioned I already had plug-in inverters on order for a smaller DIY setup alongside the rooftop quote.
The interest evaporated. The company was not particularly keen on discussing anything once they knew I had my own kit coming. Solar installers make their money on supply and install packages, and a customer who is sourcing their own equipment is a less attractive job. Fair enough, commercially speaking, but not a great experience.
Then I mentioned I had also been in touch with Octopus Energy about their 20-panel and battery package. The interest came back immediately. A significant rooftop installation with batteries is a much more valuable job, and suddenly the conversation was very different.
It was a revealing ten minutes. The installer was not doing anything wrong — they were just responding rationally to commercial signals. But it illustrated something worth knowing if you are a smaller customer: your leverage with installers right now is limited unless you are bringing them a full-size job.
The fitting problem is real
I have spoken to a number of other people trying to get solar systems installed recently and the installer availability issue comes up consistently. Finding someone reliable, available within a reasonable timeframe, and willing to take on smaller jobs is genuinely difficult in many parts of the country right now.
Demand has spiked. The government’s figures showed over 27,000 solar installations in March 2026 alone, the highest monthly total since 2012. The installer workforce has not scaled at the same rate. This is not a small problem — it is one of the things that could slow down the UK’s solar rollout even if the products and regulations are in good shape.
For plug-in solar specifically, the advice from some quarters is to use the compliant electrician route until the BSI product standard arrives and certified DIY kits are available. That makes sense in theory. In practice, finding an electrician who is familiar with G98 notifications and plug-in solar installation — rather than just standard domestic electrical work — adds another layer of effort to what should be a simple process.
Where I have landed
I now have two EcoFlow STREAM plug-in inverters on backorder from eBay. They will likely take over a month to arrive, given current supply constraints. Not ideal, but at this point it is the most reliable route I have found to actually getting the hardware.
For the panels, I am planning to buy from City Plumbing, who have been reasonably well stocked and are one of the more straightforward options for UK buyers right now. They have good availability and trade-quality hardware.
For installation, I am going to try a local roofer rather than a specialist solar company. For a straightforward panel mount on a south-facing surface, a competent roofer can handle the physical installation. The electrical connection is the part that requires a registered electrician, but separating those two elements opens up more options in terms of who is available and willing to take the job.
It is a more piecemeal approach than I would have liked. But that seems to be the reality of the UK plug-in solar market in mid-2026 — the regulations have moved, the interest is there, the products exist, but the supply chain and installer network have not kept pace with demand.
What this means if you are in the same position
A few practical takeaways from the last few weeks:
Do not assume stock availability. Check with the supplier directly before ordering, and ask specifically about lead times on panels rather than just the inverter. Panels are where the current bottleneck sits.
Be realistic about installer availability. If you are in a part of the country with high solar demand — most of the south and Midlands — expect to wait or to cast a wider net. Asking a roofer about panel mounting and a local electrician about the connection separately is worth considering.
EcoFlow are not the only option. Their products are good and the brand association with the government rollout is genuine, but Hoymiles inverters and panels sourced from City Plumbing or a solar trade supplier can get you to the same place, potentially faster.
The market is genuinely moving. The BSI product standard due in July 2026 will make certified DIY kits available at retail. Lidl, Amazon and Iceland are all lined up to stock them. If waiting a couple of months for that moment suits your situation better than dealing with the current supply constraints, that is a legitimate choice.
I will update this article as my own installation progresses. When the inverters arrive, when the panels are fitted, and when the system is actually generating electricity, I will write it up properly. Hopefully the next update is more positive than this one.
If you have had your own experience trying to get plug-in solar installed in the UK — good or bad — I would genuinely like to hear about it. Drop a comment below or get in touch via the contact page. The more real-world information we can pull together, the more useful this site becomes for everyone trying to navigate the same process.