Bringing Plug-in Solar to Britain: An Interview with Thunder Energy Services

Thunder Energy Services was selling plug-in solar kits within the first week of the new rules coming into force in Great Britain in August 2026. Today, the company offers three ENA-compliant one- and two-panel kits within its Thunder Bolt range.

But Thunder's involvement in solar predates the new regulations. Alongside its plug-in kits, the company offers hardwired solar systems, battery storage and traditional rooftop installations. This broader experience gives Thunder a useful perspective on the different solar options available to households, and when plug-in solar might not be the best choice.

For the second interview in our Bringing Plug-in Solar to Britain series, we invited Thunder's Operations Director, Ugur Yildirim, to share the company's story, its experiences entering the market and what it's learned from customers exploring plug-in solar for the first time.

Ugur offers some particularly useful advice about choosing the right type of solar system and the practical considerations involved in installing panels safely. He also shares his views on Britain's new regulatory framework, the future of battery storage and why he believes VAT could be one of the biggest barriers to wider adoption.

How Thunder Energy got started

Can you tell us a little about Thunder Energy Services? When and how did the business begin, and what experience did your team bring with them?

The work behind Thunder Energy actually began in 2021, when we were primarily involved in PV*SOL-based system design for conventional rooftop solar installations.

By 2025, we decided to put that experience into developing our own solar products for the UK market, particularly compact systems that could offer an alternative to traditional rooftop installations.

That's how our original Thunder Storm range came about. These were flexible balcony solar kits designed to connect through a hardwired electrical connection, much like conventional rooftop systems.

Our background in solar design and electrical systems has been central to everything we've developed since.

Being among the first suppliers to market

You were one of the first suppliers to bring compliant plug-in solar kits to market, within the first week of the new rules coming into force in August. What did it take to be ready so early, and did anything prove harder than expected, whether regulatory approval, sourcing equipment or getting products into customers' hands?

I think our biggest advantage was that we'd already been working in this market well before the new regulations arrived.

We launched our Thunder Storm flexible solar kits in 2025, when plug-in solar wasn't really being discussed in the UK. We were already selling compact balcony solar systems, although they required hardwired connections rather than a conventional UK plug.

We also had opportunities to engage with government and industry representatives during the development of the new regulations, so we were following the process closely.

When the rules finally changed in August 2026, we weren't starting from scratch. The underlying technology was already familiar to us, and adapting our product range mainly involved changing certain components and ensuring the new configurations met the relevant requirements.

When is plug-in solar the right choice?

You sell plug-in kits, DIY hardwired kits and full rooftop systems, giving you experience across different types of solar installation. When a customer comes to you wanting solar, how do you decide which approach is right for them, and when would you advise against plug-in solar?

We don't necessarily see plug-in solar and rooftop solar as competing categories. They're different concepts serving different needs.

When someone approaches us, we look at their electricity requirements, available space, orientation, property ownership and the structural suitability of the proposed installation area.

For some households, a conventional rooftop installation makes much more sense, particularly where there's sufficient roof space and a demand for higher electricity generation. For others, particularly those without a suitable roof or who want a smaller, more affordable system, plug-in solar can be an excellent alternative.

We don't necessarily see plug-in solar and rooftop solar as competing categories. They're different concepts serving different needs.

Ultimately, we try to recommend what actually suits the customer and their property, rather than simply selling them whichever product they originally enquired about.

What first-time plug-in solar buyers should know

From your conversations with customers, what are the most common misconceptions about plug-in solar, and what practical mistakes do first-time buyers make that you’d like them to avoid?

One of the biggest misconceptions is that because plug-in solar is now legal and designed for DIY installation, it can be installed almost anywhere.

We occasionally hear from customers who assume they can simply place a solar panel on a three-storey flat roof because the product is legally permitted. Unfortunately, it's not that straightforward.

Coming from a rooftop solar background, we're particularly conscious of wind loads, structural conditions and the importance of properly securing solar panels.

A plug-in system may be electrically straightforward, but the mounting arrangement still needs careful consideration.

That's why we strongly encourage customers to follow the installation instructions provided with our kits and, wherever possible, secure the mounting brackets to a suitable surface or wall.

A plug-in system may be electrically straightforward, but the mounting arrangement still needs careful consideration.

We use high-quality, properly certified electrical components, but that alone doesn't guarantee a safe installation. The system also needs to withstand external conditions without damaging the equipment or potentially causing harm to others.

I think this is something the industry needs to communicate much more clearly, particularly as DIY solar becomes more popular.

Has the government got the plug-in solar rules right?

Great Britain’s new plug-in solar framework limits microinverter output to 800VA, permits just one plug-in system per household and excludes plug-in battery storage. From your experience, do you think the government has struck the right balance between safety and accessibility, and what would you most like to see changed in the current rules?

I think the regulations will continue to evolve, particularly when it comes to battery storage.

In my view, the UK was probably a couple of years behind some European countries in introducing plug-in solar, and I suspect we'll see a similar development with batteries. My personal expectation is that plug-in battery storage could become permissible around 2028, although that's simply a prediction at this stage.

That said, I do understand the government's cautious approach.

Britain has an ageing electrical infrastructure, not just at grid level but within individual properties. Some homes still have electrical installations dating back several decades, and introducing new generation or storage equipment into those environments requires careful consideration.

We provide electrical assessments for customers who aren't confident about their existing infrastructure and can arrange hardwired solar connections where necessary. We already offer two battery storage options alongside our compact solar kits, with professional hardwired installation.

So while I would certainly welcome a more accessible regulatory framework for battery storage, I also recognise the importance of ensuring these systems are connected safely.

Comparing plug-in solar kit prices

Thunder's single-panel Bolt Max 530W is priced in line with the market, but the two-panel Bolt 920W at £749.99 is more expensive than several kits with similar panel capacity. How do you account for that difference, and what should shoppers consider when comparing their options?

Our Bolt Max 530W is competitively priced, but across our entire range, including the Bolt 920W, we've deliberately chosen to use premium components.

We use Tier 1 solar panels, high-quality microinverters and properly certified mounting equipment.

When comparing solar kits, I think customers need to look beyond the advertised wattage and initial purchase price.

How durable are the components? What certifications do they carry? How long can you realistically expect the system to operate? And what kind of support will you receive after purchasing it?

Ultimately, solar is an investment rather than simply another household purchase. You're effectively installing a small electricity-generating asset at home, with the potential to offset electricity costs over many years.

We want customers to see that long-term value rather than simply choosing the lowest price.

We're also a UK-based business offering direct customer support, technical advice and professional installation services. These things matter, particularly when customers are investing in electrical equipment for their homes.

What's next for Thunder Energy Services?

Looking ahead, what’s next for Thunder Energy Services? Do you have plans to expand your plug-in solar range, and are there any new products or services you’re able to share?

One of our biggest priorities is expanding our professional installation network.

We already provide battery installation services across much of England, although our coverage becomes more limited as we move further north. Over the coming winter and throughout 2027, we want to strengthen that network considerably.

We're particularly interested in making complete compact solar and battery systems more accessible, rather than focusing exclusively on standalone plug-in solar kits.

Many of our customers initially purchase a plug-in solar system and later return to us for battery storage once they realise they could make better use of their excess electricity generation.

Will plug-in solar become mainstream in Britain?

Finally, do you think plug-in solar will go mainstream in Britain, or will it remain a niche product? What would need to happen for it to take off?

I don't necessarily think plug-in solar will become mainstream in Britain under the current market conditions, but I certainly wouldn't describe it as a niche product either. There are plenty of households for which compact solar makes practical and financial sense, particularly those without suitable rooftops or who simply don't want to invest thousands of pounds in a conventional installation.

If the UK extended similar VAT relief to plug-in solar, it could make a meaningful difference to retail prices and encourage far more households to participate in generating their own electricity.

However, I think one of the biggest barriers to wider adoption is VAT. Germany, for example, has introduced VAT relief for plug-in solar systems, making them considerably more affordable.

In the UK, qualifying professionally installed rooftop solar systems benefit from zero-rated VAT, but standalone plug-in solar kits don't receive the same treatment. We occasionally have customers asking why similar products are cheaper in Germany. A significant part of that difference is simply taxation, rather than additional profit going to UK suppliers.

If the UK extended similar VAT relief to plug-in solar, it could make a meaningful difference to retail prices and encourage far more households to participate in generating their own electricity.

I think this is an important conversation that the industry should be having with policymakers. If the objective is to make small-scale renewable generation more accessible, reducing the upfront financial barriers would be a sensible place to start.

Final thoughts

Thunder was quick to bring plug-in solar kits to market, and Ugur's answers offer some useful advice for households now considering their options. From choosing a suitable system and planning a safe installation to looking beyond headline prices at component quality and after-sales support, there's plenty for prospective buyers to think about.

Looking ahead, his comments on VAT relief and battery storage suggest that some of the biggest opportunities for plug-in solar in Britain may depend on changes to government policy, rather than new technology alone.

A big thank you to Ugur and the Thunder Energy team for taking the time to share their experiences and perspectives with us.

Editor's notes

VAT on solar equipment: In Great Britain, qualifying professionally installed solar panels currently benefit from zero-rated VAT, while plug-in solar kits and solar equipment bought separately for DIY installation do not qualify for the same relief. Read the government's VAT guidance.

VAT on plug-in solar in Germany: Since 1 January 2023, Germany has applied a 0% VAT rate to qualifying solar equipment, including plug-in balcony solar kits with panel capacities of 300W or more. Read the German Federal Ministry of Finance's guidance.

Tier 1 solar panels: BloombergNEF publishes a quarterly list of solar panel manufacturers based on their track record supplying bank-financed solar projects, rather than directly assessing panel quality. Thunder doesn't identify the panel manufacturers used in its kits, but based on the specifications published on its website, the Bolt range appears to use panels from Trina Solar and LONGi, both included on BloombergNEF's Q3 2026 Tier 1 list. Other manufacturers on the same list whose panels are used in competing UK plug-in solar kits include JA Solar, DMEGC, Jinko Solar and AIKO. Read BloombergNEF's methodology.

Editorial disclosure: This interview was conducted voluntarily and was not sponsored or paid for by Thunder Energy Services. At the time of publication, PluginSolarCalculator.com has no commercial relationship with Thunder Energy Services.