💷 The average household can earn £350 per year from Intelligent Octopus Flux

🧠 Smart battery controls will maximise your profits

🔋 You just need solar panels, an eligible battery, and a smart meter to qualify

Solar export tariffs can save you hundreds of pounds per year by paying for the excess solar electricity you send to the grid – but Intelligent Octopus Flux isn’t just another export tariff.

As well as paying the highest export rates in the country, it also allows you to lower your import costs, all while helping the grid to withstand peak periods of consumption across the country.

In this guide, we’ll explain how Intelligent Octopus Flux works with your solar & battery system, how much it can earn you, and whether it’s the best tariff for your home.

If you’re interested in how much you could save with a solar & battery system, click the button below, enter a few details, and we’ll generate a quick estimate.

Intelligent Octopus Flux is a smart import and export tariff with peak and off-peak periods that’s available to households with solar panels and an eligible battery.

Its import and export rates are higher during the 4pm-7pm peak time than they are at any other point, but they always stay level with each other.

This means you can charge your battery at cheaper times – when electricity is 10% cheaper than on Octopus’s standard variable tariff – then sell to the grid during the peak period.

Instead of simply viewing your battery as a storage unit for your excess solar electricity, Intelligent Octopus Flux uses it to maximise your income.

This tariff also removes the basic inequality at the heart of most solar export tariffs (i.e. that you’ll pay more to buy electricity than you’ll receive for selling it) and encourages people to shift their energy usage away from peak times, when the grid is under the most pressure.

Octopus will run your battery for you, making sure it fully charges at off-peak times, and discharges all of it to the grid and your home during the 4pm-7pm peak period.

The company relies on smart battery controls that use weather forecasts to calculate how much electricity your solar panels are likely to produce each day, and how much of it your home should use to save the most money.

Your battery will then source the remainder from the grid, to get your battery fully charged by the time 4pm comes around.

This means you’ll always buy low and sell high, no matter how much electricity your panels generate.

Other companies’ export tariffs don’t come with off-peak and peak times, so they can’t offer the chance to use your battery as an efficient buying and selling machine.

Instead, you’ll simply sell your excess solar electricity to the grid, always for the same price, and only when your panels generate so much energy that your battery reaches its capacity.

With Intelligent Octopus Flux, you can be paid for contributing solar electricity to the grid, and for having a battery.

If you'd like to sign up for Intelligent Octopus Flux, click the button below.

Why did Octopus set up Intelligent Octopus Flux?

It pays to create the best export tariff, with the highest rates, to stand out from the competition and attract more customers who’ll pay for Octopus electricity – and supply it too.

And by getting solar households to store electricity and export it during periods of high demand, Octopus can help the National Grid more easily meet the needs of its customers.

The grid often has to tell major renewable generators (like wind and solar farms) to turn off their systems because there isn’t enough storage to handle the excess. If we have more households with storage capabilities, the grid won’t need to do this as often.

This, in turn, should stop the grid from having to pay companies to turn on their gas power plants during these instances, to fill the resultant need.

In 2022, the grid paid wind farms £215 million to turn off, and spent £717 million to turn on the gas plants that briefly replaced them – a total of £932 million that households pay for through the ‘network costs’ part of their energy bills.

This amount could grow to around £2.3 billion by 2026, according to the National Grid Electricity System Operator.

Instead of buying or building storage infrastructure, Octopus puts the onus on households to buy batteries – and rewards them for doing so by maximising their income.

This is a quick, effective way for Octopus to improve the situation while also profiting. Octopus’s Alex Schoch put it well when the tariff was first launched, saying: “We’ve seen an 80% increase in demand for our smart tariffs since 2022, and everyone benefits.”

Intelligent Octopus Flux comes with smart battery controls, unlike Octopus Flux, which requires you to manually set your battery’s import and export times.

This does mean you’ll need a battery with smart controls, which limits the number of models you can use – unlike Octopus Flux. Currently, Intelligent Octopus Flux only works with GivEnergy batteries.

However, these smart controls are worth it. They maximise your profits and give you access to Intelligent Octopus Flux’s matching import and export rates – which Octopus Flux doesn’t offer.

Also, all of Octopus Flux’s export rates are lower than Intelligent Octopus Flux’s, so when you do sell your excess solar electricity, you’ll make less money from it.

Octopus Flux is an excellent option for anyone who already has a solar battery or doesn’t want to buy a GivEnergy one, but overall, Intelligent Octopus Flux is the best export tariff.

What rates does Intelligent Octopus Flux pay?

<div style="text-align: center; font-size: 14px;">
<div style="display: inline-block; border-radius: 8px; overflow-x: scroll; max-width: 100%; margin: 40px auto; text-align: left;">
<table style="background: rgba(0,0,0,0.02);">
  <tr style="background: #4EE5D3; text-align: left; border-radius: 4px;">
    <th style="padding: 12px;"><center>City</center></th>
    <th style="padding: 12px;"><center>Peak import (p / kWh)</center></th>
    <th style="padding: 12px;"><center>Off-peak import (p / kWh)</center></th>
    <th style="padding: 12px;"><center>Peak export (p / kWh)</center></th>
    <th style="padding: 12px;"><center>Off-peak export (p / kWh)</center></th>
  </tr>
  <tr style="border-bottom: 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.1) solid;">
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>Birmingham</center></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>28.61</center></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>21.45</center></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>28.61</center></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>21.45</center></td>
  </tr>
  <tr style="border-bottom: 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.1) solid;">
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>Bristol</center></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>28.53</center></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>21.39</center></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>28.53</center></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>21.39</center></td>
  </tr>
  <tr style="border-bottom: 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.1) solid;">
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>Cardiff</center></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>29.42</center></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>22.06</center></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>29.42</center></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>22.06</center></td>
  </tr>
  <tr style="border-bottom: 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.1) solid;">
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>Edinburgh</center></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>28.77</center></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>21.58</center></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>28.77</center></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>21.58</center></td>
  </tr>
  <tr style="border-bottom: 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.1) solid;">
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>London</center></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>30.86</center></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>23.15</center></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>30.86</center></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>23.15</center></td>
  </tr>
  <tr style="border-bottom: 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.1) solid;">
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>Manchester</center></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>28.53</center></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>21.39</center></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>28.53</center></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>21.39</center></td>
  </tr>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>York</center></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>28.02</center></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>21.02</center></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>28.02</center></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"><center>21.02</center></td>
  </tr>
</table>
</div>
</div>
<p><em>All rates correct as of 5th April 2024</em></p>

At any given time on Intelligent Octopus Flux, you’ll receive the same amount for your exported electricity per kilowatt-hour (kWh) as you pay for your imported electricity – and the peak rates are always around one-third more than the off-peak rates.

However, these rates differ slightly across the country, depending on what Octopus pays for electricity in specific regions.

If you would like to see the savings you could get from a solar & battery system, just answer a few quick questions below, and we’ll provide an estimate. 

How much money can you earn with Intelligent Octopus Flux?

With a 4.4 kilowatt-peak (kWp) solar panel system and 5.2kWh battery, the average household with an annual consumption of 3,500kWh of electricity can make around £350 per year from Intelligent Octopus Flux alone.

£280 of this total comes from the excess solar electricity that this household would export to the grid, with another £70 of profit gained by the battery buying grid electricity at off-peak times and selling it back at peak times.

That doesn’t even include the money this household would save from using electricity from its own solar panels, instead of the grid.

Compare that to – for instance – OVO’s best export tariff, which pays 20p per kWh, and which the same household could use to make £246 per year.

That’s £104 lower than Intelligent Octopus Flux’s total – or 30% less.

How can you sign up for Intelligent Octopus Flux?

To sign up for Intelligent Octopus Flux, you first need to be signed up to an import and export tariff from Octopus.

Once you’re receiving electricity from Octopus, just get a smart meter in your home and a solar panel system that includes a GivEnergy battery, and you can start the process of getting an export tariff.

You can sign up for either Octopus Outgoing or Octopus Flux first, through the appropriate online application form.

Whichever tariff you choose, you’ll need your system’s MCS or Flexi-Orb certificate and G98 or G99 application, as well as approval from your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) – that is, the organisation that runs the hardware supplying electricity to your region.

Octopus will process your applications within about two days, then apply to your DNO for an export MPAN (Meter Point Administration Number). This unique, 13-digit code will identify your electricity meter as yours.

One to four weeks later, your DNO will provide your export MPAN, it’ll be added to your Octopus account, and all you’ll have to do is provide an initial meter reading.

Octopus will then connect to your smart meter, and you’ll start being paid for your exports – at which point you just need to download the Octopus app, where you can register your battery and switch to Intelligent Octopus Flux.

To be eligible for Intelligent Octopus Flux, you must have solar panels and a GivEnergy battery. Octopus doesn’t even insist on installing them, unlike some suppliers.

You’ll also need a smart meter, as well as a relatively recent model of iPhone or Android phone.

And as mentioned above, you must already be on an Octopus import tariff and an Octopus export tariff before you can switch to Intelligent Octopus Flux.

The process of switching import suppliers usually takes three weeks at most, and the export tariff sign-up process generally takes between two and eight weeks.

However, we’ve partnered with Octopus to provide speedy access – so if you sign up for Sunsave Plus, you can get priority access to Intelligent Octopus Flux.

Without Sunsave’s fast-track assistance, you could be waiting up to 11 weeks to start benefiting from Intelligent Octopus Flux.

Is Intelligent Octopus Flux the best export tariff for everyone?

Intelligent Octopus Flux isn’t the best export tariff for everyone.

It’s definitely the best export tariff if you don’t have an electric vehicle or heat pump, no matter the size of your solar panel system or level of your electricity consumption.

But if you have a heat pump and a solar panel system that’s 5.2kWp or smaller, you might be better off switching to Cosy Octopus for your imported electricity and Octopus Outgoing Fixed for your exported electricity.

Cosy Octopus offers a Cosy Rate from 4am to 7am and 1pm to 4pm that’s 40% cheaper than your region’s Flexible Octopus rate.

If your solar panel system’s bigger than 5.2kWp though, you’ll likely still be better off with Intelligent Octopus Flux.

The other main situation where you should usually choose a different export tariff is if you have an electric vehicle, in which case you’ll usually benefit from using Intelligent Octopus Go.

That way, you’ll be able to charge your car for 7.5p per kWh, at any time of day – and use the same rate to power your household’s appliances between 11:30pm and 5:30am.

The only exceptions are generally homes that have a big solar panel system and low electricity usage, which are left with an especially large amount of electricity to export.

What’s the long term future of Intelligent Octopus Flux?

Intelligent Octopus Flux may rise and fall in line with energy prices, but it’s likely to stay relatively high.

In the main, suppliers have increased their solar export tariffs since the Smart Export Guarantee forced them into the market.

And Octopus in particular has a good record for raising its tariffs.

The energy provider doubled its Outgoing Fixed rate from 7.5p per kWh to 15p per kWh in 2022, then followed this up in 2023 by introducing the two best export tariffs around: Intelligent Octopus Flux and Octopus Flux.

And it’s not the only supplier to boost its export payments. E.ON raised its top tariff from 5.5p per kWh to 16.5p per kWh in 2023, around the same time that Good Energy introduced two new 20p and 15p per kWh rates.

British Gas, EDF, OVO, and Scottish Power have all raised their export tariffs too, as they’ve gradually realised how attractive a high export rate is to the discerning customer.

In the long term, regardless of whether Intelligent Octopus Flux’s rates rise, the role of export tariffs as an important part of making profits from your solar panel system will become increasingly diminished.

This is because household self-consumption will increase as electric vehicles and heating systems become commonplace across the country – meaning homes will use more of their solar electricity, instead of exporting it to the grid.

Intelligent Octopus Flux is the best export tariff for most solar households in the UK.

This is due to the supplier’s radical decision to offer the same rates for imported and exported electricity, but only to systems that include a battery with smart controls.

With this tariff, your battery isn’t just a storage device; it’s a way for you to make extra money while also helping the grid to cope in a rapidly electrifying country – and all without you having to lift a finger.

If you’re wondering how much a solar & battery system could save you, just click the button below, answer a few questions, and we’ll provide you with an estimate.

Can you connect multiple batteries to Intelligent Octopus Flux?

Is Intelligent Octopus Flux worth it?

Does Intelligent Octopus Flux affect your battery’s lifespan?

Here's how the tariff works with your solar installation, how much it can earn you, and when it’s the best choice for your home.

Intelligent Octopus Flux: explained

💷 A 5 kW solar panel system generally costs £11,500 to buy and install

🌞 It typically generates 4,250 kWh per year in the UK

✂️ You can cut your electricity bills by up to 103%

When you’re buying a solar panel system, you want to ensure you’re getting the correct size for your household.

A 5kW solar panel system is usually a safe choice for a four-bedroom property, but this depends on factors like your present and future energy usage and the solar battery you pick.

In this guide, we’ll explain what a 5kW solar panel system is, how much it costs, and which devices it can power over an average day.

If you’re wondering how much a solar & battery system could save you, just answer a few quick questions below and we'll generate an estimate for you.

A 5kW solar panel system has a peak output rating of five kilowatts, meaning it produces 5,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year in standard test conditions.

You can construct a 5kW system by acquiring solar panels with power ratings that add up to 5,000 watts (W) when grouped together – for example, 12 panels that are all rated at 430W.

This doesn’t necessarily mean your system will generate 5,000kWh, since solar panel output is affected by factors including your location, roof angle and direction, and the quality of the installation.

You might also see a 5kW system referred to as a 5kWp (kilowatt peak) system. In this context, both phrases have the same meaning.

How many solar panels are in a 5 kW system?

There are 12 solar panels in a 5kW system, if you buy 430W panels.

How many solar panels you’ll need in order to install a 5kW system will totally depend on your panels’ peak power ratings, though.

For example, if your installer only has 350W solar panels in stock, you’ll need 14 panels.

Purchasing panels with higher peak output ratings can reduce the number of panels you need, which is a good solution for households with limited roof space.

What size battery should you add to a 5kW system?

You should generally add a 5-7kWh battery to a 5kW solar panel system.

This enables you to store your excess solar electricity all year round, to use when skies are grey and after the sun sets.

You’ll power your home with more of the abundant energy your solar panels produce in spring and summer, and squeeze every last drop out of the electricity they generate in autumn and winter, minimising wasted energy in the process. 

The size of battery you should get will depend on multiple factors though, including how much electricity your household consumes per day, and the shape of your annual usage pattern.

If you have an electric vehicle and charger, for example, and take more trips in the summer, you may use more solar electricity in those hotter months than during winter – which may mean there’s no need for a larger battery.

However, a bigger battery might be a good idea if the people in your household spend most of their time outside of the home while the sun’s up – for instance at school or work – since you won’t be able to use the majority of the solar electricity as your panels produce it.

What size inverter should you add to a 5kW system?

A 5 kW system generally needs a 3.5kW inverter, since your solar panel system should be roughly 50% bigger than your inverter, as a rule of thumb.

This is largely because in most UK locations, your solar panels won’t often reach their peak power rating, since our weather usually fails to meet standard test conditions.

Standard test conditions include a solar irradiance of 1,000 W per m² and an air temperature of 25°C, and is the way manufacturers measure a solar panel’s output.

The electricity generated by a 5kW system in the UK can still save you hundreds of pounds per year, but you won’t produce much beyond 5,000kWh per year, even in the sunniest regions.

And it’s a better idea to choose an inverter size that matches your system’s actual output, instead of its idealised levels.

An inverter – like any electrical item – needs power to function, called its 'startup voltage'. It should always be at this level, at least, meaning that undersizing the inverter is also safer.

If you would like to see the savings you could get from a solar & battery system, answer a few quick questions below and we’ll provide an estimate.

How much does a 5kW solar panel system cost?

A 5kW solar panel system costs around £11,500 to buy and install.

If you want to add a battery to this system, it’ll push the price up by around £2,000, for a total cost of £13,500.

This final cost can vary substantially though, based on factors including where you live, the type of roof you have, the installer you choose, and the current state of the industry.

If you want to learn more, check out our full guide to solar panel costs.

How much energy will a 5kW solar panel system generate?

A 5kW solar panel system will generate 4,250kWh of electricity per year in the UK, on average.

This means you’ll typically produce roughly 85% of your system’s peak power output.

We’ve based this figure on a household experiencing average UK irradiance that has a 4.4kWp solar panel system and a 5.2kWh battery, uses 3,500kWh of electricity per year, and is signed up to the Intelligent Octopus Flux export tariff.

A solar panel system will usually generate less solar electricity in areas with lower amounts of sunshine, such as Scotland or northern England, or more if you live in a sunnier place like Cornwall, Dorset, or Essex.

For example, a 5.2kW system we designed for a Bedfordshire household has an estimated annual output of 4,763kWh, and our design for a 5.6kW array in Suffolk would have produced approximately 5,894kWh per year.

However, another of our 5.2kW designs, for a property in Cumbria, would generate roughly 3,829kWh per year.

A 5kW solar panel system can run the average four-bedroom household, on a typical day.

It can generate 11.6kWh of solar electricity per day, on average.

This amount of electricity can power all of the devices below for the stated amount of time, according to Centre for Sustainable Energy data – with some extra energy left over.

<div style="text-align: center; font-size: 14px;">
<div style="display: inline-block; border-radius: 8px; overflow-x: scroll; max-width: 100%; margin: 40px auto; text-align: left;">
<table style="background: rgba(0,0,0,0.02);">
  <tr style="background: #4EE5D3; text-align: left; border-radius: 4px;">
    <th style="padding: 12px;">Device</th>
    <th style="padding: 12px;">Time</th>
    <th style="padding: 12px;">kWh usage</th>
  </tr>
  <tr style="border-bottom: 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.1) solid;">
    <td style="padding: 12px;">Washing machine</td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;">1.5 hours</td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;">3.15</td>
  </tr>
  <tr style="border-bottom: 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.1) solid;">
    <td style="padding: 12px;">Tumble dryer</td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;">1.5 hours</td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;">3.75</td>
  </tr>
  <tr style="border-bottom: 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.1) solid;">
    <td style="padding: 12px;">Electric shower</td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;">30 minutes</td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;">0.44</td>
  </tr>
  <tr style="border-bottom: 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.1) solid;">
    <td style="padding: 12px;">Hairdryer</td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;">15 minutes</td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;">0.45</td>
  </tr>
  <tr style="border-bottom: 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.1) solid;">
    <td style="padding: 12px;">Oven</td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;">1 hour</td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;">2.1</td>
  </tr>
  <tr style="border-bottom: 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.1) solid;">
    <td style="padding: 12px;">Toaster</td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;">5 minutes</td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;">0.08</td>
  </tr>
  <tr style="border-bottom: 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.1) solid;">
    <td style="padding: 12px;">Microwave</td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;">10 minutes</td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;">0.1</td>
  </tr>
  <tr style="border-bottom: 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.1) solid;">
    <td style="padding: 12px;">TV</td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;">2 hours</td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;">0.24</td>
  </tr>
  <tr style="border-bottom: 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.1) solid;">
    <td style="padding: 12px;">Games console</td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;">2 hours</td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;">0.24</td>
  </tr>
  <tr style="border-bottom: 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.1) solid;">
    <td style="padding: 12px;">2 laptops</td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;">8 hours each</td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;">0.8</td>
  </tr>
  <tr style="border-bottom: 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.1) solid;">
    <td style="padding: 12px;">10-watt LED light bulbs</td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;">17 hours</td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;">0.23</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;"></td>
    <td style="padding: 12px;">Total: 11.58</td>
  </tr>
</table>
</div>
</div>

A 5kW solar panel system is big enough if it approximately matches your annual electricity consumption.

But you should always consider getting as large a solar panel system as your roof allows, if you can afford it.

The fixed prices of labour and scaffolding typically make up a large proportion of your costs, so adding more panels doesn’t raise the overall price by much, which means it makes financial sense to fill up your roof – unless it’d mean extra scaffolding.

Choosing a bigger system and one of the best export tariffs will help you to cut your electricity bills by even more – and could prepare your household for any future increases in your usage.

If you’re considering getting a heat pump, buying an electric car, or welcoming a new addition to your family at some point, a larger solar panel system can help you lessen the impact.

It’ll cost you more to add to your solar panel system at a later date, as you’ll have to pay the additional costs – like scaffolding – all over again, so it pays to plan ahead.

How much space do you need for a 5kW solar panel system?

You’ll typically need 37.8 square metres of roof space for a 5kW solar panel system.

This total takes into account the average height and width of a solar panel – around two square metres – plus the extra spaces installers generally leave.

Your solar installer will usually make sure there’s a 40cm space between the panels and your roof’s sides, and a 3cm gap between each panel, to follow Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) guidelines.

If you have a vent pipe, chimney, or skylight (also known as a Velux window), you’ll require more roof space – but not much.

If you have all three, you’ll usually need another 0.81m², for a total of 38.6m².

A 5kW solar panel system is definitely worth it, so long as it’s correctly sized for your household.

If it is, it’ll benefit you in multiple ways. You’ll cut your electricity bills by up to 103%* if you use a smart export tariff, which enables you to get paid for the excess solar electricity you send to the grid.

You’ll also shrink your carbon footprint by around a tonne of CO2 per year on average, according to our calculations, and reduce your reliance on the grid, which can help lessen the impact of energy price cap rises.

Across 25 years of enjoying all these advantages, the average owner of a 5kW solar panel system can expect to have made tens of thousands of pounds in savings.

And a 5kW system will almost always boost your Energy Performance Certificate rating by a grade, which typically results in a 3% increase in your home’s value, according to Rightmove’s 2023 study of 300,000 properties.

If your home costs £285,000, which is the UK average as of February 2024, a solar panel system will typically raise its value by £8,550.

* This figure is based on a household experiencing average UK irradiance that has a 4.4kWp solar panel system and a 5.2kWh battery, uses 3,500kWh of electricity per year, and is signed up to the Intelligent Octopus Flux export tariff.

Do you need planning permission for a 5kW solar panel system?

You don’t generally need planning permission to install solar panels on a home, including 5kW systems.

Domestic solar installations are almost always protected by permitted development rights, which enable homeowners to carry out medium-sized improvements without planning permission.

You’ll usually only have to apply for permission if you live in a flat, listed building, or conservation area – or if you want to install a ground-mounted system.

However, your installer will need to send a G99 application to your area’s Distribution Network Operator (DNO) if your inverter’s maximum capacity is more than 3.68kW on a single-phase system.

This is sometimes the case with a 5kW installation, as your solar panel system should be around 50% bigger than your inverter – which would lead to a roughly 3.5kW inverter – and some installers prefer to fit a larger inverter.

If it is required, a G99 application should be a simple formality that makes your DNO aware of your system, so it can take the extra electricity into account while running its part of the grid.

Can you get an off-grid 5kW solar panel system?

You can certainly get an off-grid 5kW solar panel system installed, and in most scenarios, it’ll provide a large proportion of the electricity you need.

Since you can’t export excess energy to the grid, your focus will be on buying a large battery to store as much electricity as you can.

A 10-12kWh battery will likely meet your needs, depending on where you’re living and your electricity usage.

You may also want to add other sources of renewable energy alongside your solar panel system, like a wind turbine.

A 5kW solar panel system will only provide you with enough electricity to live off-grid if you can be careful with your consumption and use significantly less energy in winter.

A 5kW solar panel system can massively reduce your electricity bills, and is suitable for the average four-bedroom household.

However, most homes don’t align with the average, so make sure the size of your system is based on your current and future electricity consumption, rather than averages.

The best way to find out the right solar panel system size for your home is to hire a company with the relevant expertise, abilities, and accreditations – like Sunsave.

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5kW solar panel systems: an expert guide

⚡ The main regulations centre on structural safety, electrical safety, and ventilation

👩‍🔧 A properly accredited solar panel installer will follow these regulations

❌ If you fall foul of building regulations, your solar panels can be forcibly removed

When you’re making any change to your property, you want your tradesperson to follow all the building regulations, so you’re able to enjoy the benefits without any complications.

Solar panels are no different. If you choose an installer with the right accreditations, your system can save you hundreds of pounds per year, increase the value of your home, and reduce your carbon footprint.

But if your installer doesn’t follow building regulations, your system may not work, may damage your home, and may require you to make expensive alterations.

In this guide, we’ll explain which building regulations apply to solar panels, how they differ from planning permission, and how to ensure your installation complies with them.

If you would like to see the savings you could get from a solar & battery system, answer a few quick questions below, and we’ll provide an estimate.

Are there building regulations for solar panels?

There are building regulations for solar panels, as there are for most home improvements.

These government regulations are frequently updated to ensure that any alterations made to properties don’t threaten the safety or health of people who live or work in them.

Your installer must therefore gain building regulations approval from your local authority for their solar panel system plan before they can proceed.

They will have to prove your roof can comfortably support the weight of your chosen solar panel system, ensure your electrical connections are safe, and guard against fire risks by using approved materials.

The plan should also include sufficient ventilation around the panels, to stop them from overheating.

Are building regulations the same thing as planning permission?

Building regulations are not the same thing as planning permission.

Whereas building regulations compel and enable tradespeople to keep properties safe for people to be in, planning permission simply allows them to proceed with the project.

Rooftop solar installations always need building regulations approval, but rarely require planning permission.

This is because they generally fall under permitted development rights, which allow homeowners to make reasonably sized changes without getting permission.

The exceptions to this rule are typically flats, listed buildings, homes in conservation areas, and ground-mounted installations.

What are the building regulations for solar panels?

Your solar panel installer will mainly focus on the building regulations that apply to structural safety, electrical safety, and ventilation.

However, tradespeople have to comply with all building regulations while carrying out any job.

This includes using materials that have been approved by relevant certification bodies, to ensure your solar installation doesn’t endanger any occupants.

Your installer is legally bound to adhere to all building regulations. If they don’t, your local authority may serve you with an enforcement notice.

Installers must only fit solar panels if they’re sure your roof can hold their weight, and carry on doing so for up to 40 years.

Fortunately, most roofs in the UK are built to hold much more than a solar panel system, which usually weigh around 12kg per square metre when everything’s included.

Here are the building regulations for solar panels, how they differ from planning permission, and how to comply with them.

Josh Jackman

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