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Solar battery storage: how it works and when it pays
How home solar batteries work in the UK, what time-of-use tariffs add, worked examples with losses and export given up, and what to check before you buy.
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Solis inverters: UK models, batteries and warranty
Solis sells grid-tied and hybrid inverters in the UK. The model code on your quote decides whether it can run a battery, which batteries it accepts and whether your installer must apply to the network operator first.
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Founded 2005
Solis is worth shortlisting if your installer can name the exact S6 model, a battery from Solis's compatibility list and who will handle a warranty claim. Solis, the inverter brand of Ginlong Technologies, sells grid-tied inverters for solar panels only and hybrids that also run a home battery in the UK. Its 5-year UK warranty covers grid-tied and hybrid inverters made from 1 July 2025, with an extension you must apply for within 12 months. Also check whether the inverter size needs the network operator's approval before it is connected.
Solis at a glance
| Solis in the UK | |
|---|---|
| UK support | UK and Ireland service line +44 151 453 6515, UKservice@solisinverters.com |
| Standard UK warranty | 5 years (grid-tied and hybrid inverters made from 1 July 2025), 2 years (off-grid inverters and accessories) |
| Monitoring | SolisCloud app and portal |
| Grid approval | Several S6 hybrid and grid-tied models are listed as compliant on the ENA type-test register |
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Which Solis inverter is on your quote?
Solis's UK product list groups its home inverters like this:
| Model family (UK list) | What it is | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| S6-GR1P | Single-phase grid-tied | Solar panels only, no battery |
| S5-GR3P | Three-phase grid-tied | Homes with a three-phase supply |
| S6-EH1P(3-10)K-L-PLUS | Single-phase hybrid, low-voltage battery | Panels plus a 40–60 V battery |
| S6-EA1P(3.6-6)K-L | Single-phase AC-coupled | Adding a battery to panels you already have |
| S6-EH3P(8-18)K02-NV-YD-L | Three-phase hybrid, low-voltage battery | Three-phase homes with a low-voltage battery |
| S6-EH3P(5-12)K-H | Three-phase hybrid, high-voltage battery | Three-phase homes with a high-voltage battery |
| S6-EO1P(4-5)K-48-EU | Off-grid | Systems not connected to the grid |
A quote that says only "Solis 5 kW" is not enough, because inverters of the same size can do different jobs. In our reading of the catalogue, GR is grid-tied, EH hybrid, EA AC-coupled and EO off-grid; 1P and 3P mean single-phase and three-phase; L and H mean low-voltage and high-voltage batteries. Get the exact code and size (for example 3.6K) in writing.
The single-phase hybrid: S6-EH1P L-PLUS
The S6-EH1P L-PLUS is Solis's hybrid for houses with an ordinary single-phase supply and a low-voltage battery. Figures from Solis's UK datasheet for three of its sizes:
| 3.6K | 5K | 6K | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rated AC output | 3.6 kW | 5 kW | 6 kW |
| Largest usable panel input | 5.76 kW | 8 kW | 9.6 kW |
| Battery charge and discharge power | 3.6 kW | 5 kW | 6 kW |
| Backup output (continuous) | 3.6 kW | 5 kW | 6 kW |
| Grid output current at 230 V | 15.7 A | 21.8 A | 26.1 A |
All sizes have two MPPTs, take a battery between 40 and 60 V and switch to backup in under 10 milliseconds. The range also includes 3K, 8K and a 10K version that accepts higher panel currents. The S6-EH1P L-PLUS model page has the full specification, including efficiency and dimensions.
The usable panel input is 160% of the rating, so a 3.6 kW model can take a larger array; some midday output is then stored or lost, so ask for the yearly estimate for your roof.
G98 or G99: does the size need approval?
In Great Britain, a system is connected under G98 if its inverters total no more than 16 A per phase: 3.68 kW on a single-phase supply. The installer fits it and notifies the network operator (DNO) within 28 days. Anything larger falls under G99, and the installer must apply and get the DNO's approval before connecting it.
For Solis that means:
- the 3.6K hybrid (15.7 A at 230 V) fits under G98 on a single-phase supply;
- the 5K and 6K exceed 3.68 kW, so they need a G99 application, whatever the size of the panel array;
- adding a separate battery inverter counts towards the same total.
If the DNO approves only with an export limit, get that approval in writing before installation day. In Northern Ireland the equivalent rules are G98/NI and G99/NI, and the commissioning papers go to NIE Networks within 30 days.
The ENA type-test register lists the S6-EH1P L-PLUS in its 3K, 3.6K, 5K, 6K and 8K sizes as compliant. It stopped taking new entries on 16 April 2024 (the 10K is not on it; ENA now handles registrations through Connect Direct), and it marks some older S6-GR1P entries "further information required". Ask the installer for the entry that matches your exact code.
Batteries: read past "any 40–60 V battery"
Solis's UK datasheet says the L-PLUS hybrid is "compatible with any battery (between 40V-60V)", lithium or lead-acid. The UK warranty is narrower. It excludes faults related to use with "batteries not certified and listed on Ginlong's approved list" for the territory. Solis publishes that list as a battery matching pamphlet; for the L-PLUS it includes Pylontech, BYD, Fox ESS, Dyness, Puredrive and Duracell models, among many others.
"Any 40–60 V battery" is not the warranty test
Ask the installer to write on the quote the battery model and number of modules, confirmation that this exact combination is on Solis's current matching list, the battery setting they will select on the inverter, and the firmware version at commissioning. A battery that works but is not on the list can leave related faults outside the Solis warranty.
Storage (kWh) and power (kW) are separate limits: on the 3.6K, charging and discharging are capped at 3.6 kW, so a bigger battery lasts longer but cannot supply more at once. Some energy is lost both ways: Solis quotes up to 95.3% efficiency charging from the panels and 93.8% discharging, before losses inside the battery. Our solar battery guide explains how to size one and when it pays.
Roofs with more than one face
An MPPT manages one group of panels. The L-PLUS has two, enough for an east and a west face; the three-phase S6-EH3P H range has up to four. The L-PLUS starts at 90 V. With typical panels, a face of only two stays below that voltage and cannot run on its own input, and a face of three sits close to it and may add little early and late in the day: ask for the string plan and the predicted yield with and without the smallest face.
Backup during a power cut
A grid-connected system shuts down in a power cut to protect people working on the network. The L-PLUS switches to battery in under 10 ms, but only for circuits wired to its backup output. Its 10-second allowance of twice the rated power helps a fridge or pump start; on the 3.6K, plan on 3.6 kW of continuous backup (see item 4 of the quote checklist).
Warranty and support in the UK
Solis's UK limited warranty (version Solis-20250701-GL) is issued by Ginlong Technologies Co., Ltd. in China and applies to products made from 1 July 2025; older products keep the terms supplied with them. The key points:
- Length: 5 years for grid-tied and hybrid inverters, 2 years for off-grid inverters and accessories. For a private buyer it starts on the date of sale.
- Extension: possible under Solis's policy, but the application must reach Solis within 12 months, only once. An extension covers repair or replacement of the hardware only.
- Not covered: access, labour and transport costs, and faults linked to unlisted batteries or to installation that did not follow the manual.
- Claims: you or your installer send the model, serial number, invoice and installation certificate; a replacement may be factory refurbished.
- Selling your home: the warranty transfers only with Solis's written approval, so ask Solis before completion.
Because Solis pays no labour and its UK contact is a service line, not a local office, your installer's cover matters as much as Solis's. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 you can take a faulty Solis inverter up with the business that sold and installed it. An MCS-certified Solis installation does not guarantee the installer belongs to RECC or HIES, so ask before paying a deposit. Our guide to choosing an installer covers what to check.
Comparing two Solis quotes
Compare like with like before you compare prices. Check each quote for:
- the full inverter code and size, and whether it is hybrid, AC-coupled or grid-tied;
- the battery model, module count and its place on Solis's matching list;
- G98 notification or a G99 application, and any export limit;
- backup: included or not, which circuits (fridge, lights, router, boiler controls), the battery reserve kept for power cuts, and a test at handover;
- the meter, so SolisCloud shows household use as well as generation, and an owner's login;
- who handles warranty claims and pays for labour on a callout;
- the MCS certificate (or equivalent certification) for the installation, which Smart Export Guarantee suppliers in Great Britain ask for before paying.
Solar panels and batteries supplied and installed in your home are zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027, then 5% unless the relief is extended. Our quote comparison guide has a line-by-line checklist, and our calculator estimates what size of system suits your roof. For alternatives, see Fox ESS, Sunsynk and Growatt.
Frequently asked questions
Is Solis a good inverter brand?
We do not rank Solis on reputation. We checked that it has a UK support line, a UK warranty document and ENA-listed models; whether it suits you depends on the model, the battery pairing and your installer.
How long is the Solis warranty in the UK?
Five years for grid-tied and hybrid inverters made from 1 July 2025, 2 years for off-grid inverters and accessories. Any extension must be applied for within 12 months.
Can I add a battery to a Solis inverter later?
Only if you have a hybrid (EH) model, or you add an AC-coupled (EA) inverter alongside your existing system. A grid-tied GR model cannot run a battery by itself. Either way, the battery must be on Solis's compatibility list for the warranty to cover related faults.
Does a 5 kW Solis inverter need DNO approval?
On a single-phase supply, yes. Anything above 3.68 kW needs a G99 application and the network operator's approval before connection. The 3.6 kW model can be connected under G98 and notified afterwards.