Best Solar Powered Generators

Solar-powered generators are portable power stations paired with solar panels that can provide essential backup power for different homeowners.

Renewable energy has become mainstream for households and businesses alike. Government data on solar photovoltaic deployment shows that as of the end of July 2025, there were over 1.8 million solar panel installations across the UK.

Every kilowatt-hour produced from solar replaces electricity that would otherwise come from fossil fuels, helping to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions.

Solar-powered generators can be charged with panels and provide portable, clean power. Unlike petrol models, they’re quiet and emissions-free, aligning perfectly with the push for lower-carbon living.

They offer a sustainable solution for different power needs and can be a lifesaver during outages, off-grid adventures, camping, outdoor entertaining, or construction sites.  

With an ever-expanding range of configurations and sizes, choosing the best solar-powered generator for your needs and goals can be challenging.

Thankfully, you can cut through the noise by comparing top options and looking for key features that ensure your investment delivers.

Key Takeaways:

• Best Budget: Jackery Explorer 300 Plus
• Best Lightweight: EcoFlow River 2
• Best Home Backup: Anker Solix F3800
• Best Heavy Duty/Fast Charge: EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3

What Are Solar-Powered Generators?

A solar-powered generator isn’t a stand-alone machine that runs forever on sunshine. You can easily understand how it works by thinking of it as a system that includes:

• A lithium (Li-ion or LiFePO₄) battery pack with a built-in inverter (the portable power station) and outlets.
• One or more solar panels and a charge controller to recharge the battery from sunlight.

The panels feed direct current (DC) into the battery, which is converted into AC power for your household devices, tools, or appliances.

The big selling point is convenience. Unlike petrol or diesel generators, solar models produce no fumes, no noise, and can be used safely indoors.

They also allow flexibility and variety in use. You can buy the power station alone and charge it from the wall, or add panels for off-grid flexibility.

Bundled units are usually marketed as “solar generators,” but technically they’re rechargeable battery packs with ports to plug in solar panels for charging. Knowing this stops unrealistic expectations.

They’re brilliant for short-term backup, camping trips, and portable work sites, but they won’t run an entire house indefinitely, especially in cloudy British winters.

Top Solar Powered Generators by Use Case

1. Best Budget – Jackery Explorer 300 Plus

Price: £319 Capacity: 3,072 watts | Battery type: LiFePO4 | Solar charge time: 4 hours | Wall charge time: 2 hours | Weight: 8.27 lbs | Dimensions: 23 x 15.5 x 16.7 cm| Life span: 3,000 cycles

At around 288Wh, this compact power station weighs only 8.27 pounds (3.75kg) but still delivers 300W output (600W surge).

It’s ideal for camping, road trips, or charging devices wherever and whenever needed, making it a practical entry-level choice.

The Jackery Explorer 300 Plus can charge up to 4 devices simultaneously, thanks to its 1 AC, 1 USB-A, and 1 USB-C outputs, including rice cookers, mini fridges, TVs, phones, and laptops.

With a buying price of £319, or £399 with a 40W mini solar panel, it’s one of the cheapest portable power stations you can get.

The Explorer 300 Plus fully charges in 4 hours with solar and 2 hours with wall charging.

Unlike other brands in the same price range, it has excellent features like ChargeShield technology, fully upgraded BMS (Battery Management System) protections, smart app control, and a long-lasting LFP battery.

Although it only has one AC outlet, it delivers everything you need and a little more on a budget.

2. Best Home Backup: Anker Solix F3800 Portable Power Station

Price: £2,699 Capacity: 3,840 watts (Expandable to 26.9 kWh) | Battery type: LiFePO4 | Solar charge time: 2 hours | Wall charge time: 2.7 hours | Weight: 132 lbs | Dimensions: 702 × 388 × 395 mm| Life span: 3,000 cycles

The Anker Solix F3800 is a powerhouse with a 3.84 kWh base capacity, enough to power your household’s needs for a day.

The 6,000 W continuous output makes it easy to run everything in your home during blackouts, and it’s expandable to a staggering 26.9 kWh with extra batteries to power your home for a week.

Recharge is lightning-fast: 100% via solar in just 2 hours or via AC in 2.7 hours, making it superb for home backup or heavy-duty users.

A 5-year warranty and 10-year component life mean serious long-term reliability.

The F3800 features EV-class LFP batteries, durable components, a smart temperature system, an impact-resistant design and intelligent remote control.

However, it comes at a premium price of £2,699 and weighs 132 pounds (60kg). It’s quite bulky but reliable for emergencies, and the integrated wheels and handle make it manageable.

3. Best Lightweight – EcoFlow River 2

Price: £209 Capacity: 300 watts (Boostable to 600W) | Battery type: LiFePO4 | Solar charge time: 3 hours | Wall charge time: 1 hour | Weight: 7.7 lbs | Dimensions: 245 x 214 x 142 mm| Life span: 3,000 cycles

At just 7.7 pounds (3.5kg) and 256Wh, the EcoFlow River 2 is incredibly portable. It charges from 1 to 100% in an hour from the wall and in 3 hours with portable solar panels.

You can also top it up using a car battery when you’re on the go or on a camping trip, without worrying about battery damage, thanks to the TÜV Rheinland certification.

It uses a durable LiFePO₄ battery rated for around 3,000 cycles, promising long-term value. It’s perfect for camping, mobile charging, van life or small outdoor tasks.

The River 2 offers a continuous output of about 300 W and can peak to 600 W with X-Boost mode.

You can monitor, control, and customise your power usage intelligently with the EcoFlow app. It offers superb value at the price of only £209.

However, it may not be suitable for powering larger appliances and can only keep smaller devices like laptops, phones or mini fridges running for several hours.

4. Best Fast-Charge/Heavy Duty – EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3

Price: £2,848 Capacity: 4096 watts (Expandable to 12kWh) | Battery type: LiFePO4 | Solar charge time: 2 hours | Wall charge time: 1 hour | Weight: 113.54 lbs | Dimensions: 693×341×410 mm| Life span: 4,000 cycles

A 4kWh powerhouse with 4,000W continuous output, the EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 can power almost all your home appliances. It can recharge to 80% in under an hour and accepts up to 2.6kW of solar input.

Built tough and heavy at a weight of 113.54 pounds (51.5 kg), the DELTA Pro 3 is ideal as a home backup or for power-hungry appliances, and you can expand capacity up to 12 kWh.

It’s among the fastest-charging, highest-output units on the market, making it perfect for users who need serious performance.

It’s also very silent and features X-Quiet technology, a battery management system powered by X-Guard, and a 5-year warranty. However, it comes with an expensive price tag of £2,848 and can take up significant space.

Specs and Warranty Comparison of the Best Solar-Powered Generators

Model	Capacity	Output (Cont. / Surge)	Weight	Charge Options	Warranty
Jackery Explorer 300 Plus	288 Wh	300 W / 600 W	3.75 kg	AC / Solar / 12 V car	5 years
EcoFlow River 2	256 Wh	300 W / 600 W	3.5 kg	AC / Solar / 12 V car	5 years
Anker Solix F3800	3,840 Wh	6,000 W	60 kg	AC (2,990 W UK), Solar (2,400 W)	5 years
EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3	4,096 Wh	4,000 W	51.5 kg	AC / Solar (2,600 W) / EV Charge	5 years

Key Specifications That Matter

To cut through marketing noise, focus on these specs:

• Capacity (Wh or kWh): How much energy the battery stores. Higher capacity equals longer runtime.
• Continuous output and surge wattage: How much power it can consistently deliver, and the short bursts it handles. This is needed for devices like fridges.
• Cycle life: The number of charge/discharge cycles before the battery drops to around 80% capacity. LiFePO₄ usually delivers greater than 3,000 cycles.
• Charge times: Wall (AC), solar, and car (12V). UK solar recharge can be slower unless you have multiple or high-wattage panels.
• Weight & portability: Critical for camping or van users.
• Warranty: Panel (25–30 years), battery (10–15 years or thousands of cycles), unit (often 2–5 years).

These specs determine how well the unit meets your actual needs, whether you’re keeping the lights on, charging devices, or powering tools.

Typical Use Cases (and UK Weather Limits)

Solar generators shine where portability, quiet, and clean power matter. For campers or van-lifers, they run phones, fridges, and lights without draining the vehicle battery.

They can also keep Wi-Fi, lighting, or a small fridge going during power cuts and power tools in sheds, garages, or outdoor jobs.

However, cloudy UK weather limits solar recharge, making it a useful supplement, but not always a full charge method, especially in winter.

Ensure you position panels correctly and have a backup, like AC charging, for reliable use. In bright summer, panels recharge quickly, but in low light, a wall plug or car charging may be essential to stay powered.

Safety and Extension-Lead Guidance

Even without fumes, solar generators must be treated like other electrical devices:

• Don’t overload: Stay under the continuous watt limit listed on the unit.
• Use proper extension leads: Outdoor-rated, correct gauge (e.g., 2.5 mm² for high-load appliances), and kept dry.
• Ventilate: Keep vents clear; do not enclose the unit.
• Battery care: Store between 10–25°C and recharge every few months to maintain health.

Treat them like high-end batteries by keeping them clean, safe, and smartly deployed, and they’ll serve reliably for years.

Final Thoughts

Solar-powered generators are practical, clean, and increasingly essential tools.

Match the unit to your real-world needs by considering capacity, output, recharge rate, portability, and weather limitations.

With correct sizing, sound safety practices, and honest expectations, solar generators offer peace of mind, energy independence, and long-term savings without the smell or noise of petrol.

FAQs on the Best Solar-Powered Generators

How Much Does a Solar-Powered Generator Cost in the UK?

Prices range from about £300–£500 for compact units and up to £3,000–£4,000+ for large home backup systems.

The cost depends on battery capacity, output rating, and whether panels are included.

Can a Solar Generator Power a Whole House?

Most portable solar generators can’t run an entire house continuously, but larger systems (3–4 kWh+) can cover essentials like fridges, lighting, and Wi-Fi during outages.

For a full-home backup, you’ll need multiple batteries or a hybrid solar setup.

How Long Do Solar Generators Last (Warranty and Cycle Life)?

With LiFePO₄ batteries, modern solar generators typically last 3,000–6,000 cycles, equating to 8–12 years of regular use.

Warranties usually range from 2 to 5 years, depending on the brand.

Sources and References

• GOV.UK – Solar photovoltaics deployment
• Jackery – Jackery Explorer 300 Plus Portable Power Station
• Anker Solix – Anker SOLIX F3800 Portable Power Station
• EcoFlow – EcoFlow RIVER 2 Portable Power Station
• EcoFlow – EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 Portable Power Station

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