plug-in solar battery · checked 2026-09-03
Anker SOLIX Solarbank 4 E5000 Pro
A 5 kWh solar battery that plugs into your panels and your home: stores sunshine by day, covers the evening, and can charge on cheap overnight power. Has UK grid approval (G98), but for now a qualified electrician must still install it on its own wired circuit.
UK rules check
Rules checked. Maker confirms UK grid approval (G98) and requires a Part P electrician on a dedicated circuit. Socket plug-in awaits future UK rule changes.
Checked 2026-09-03
Price snapshot
£1,699
Pre-sale, shipping from 8 Sept. Add-on battery from £1,299.
Source: Anker SOLIX UK product page · checked 2026-09-03
Automatic cheap/peak shifting works with 870+ UK suppliers through the Anker app (Octopus explicitly supported). Single-phase grid connection. Third-party solar panels supported.
Who it suits
- Homes with several solar panels that plug straight into the battery: no separate inverter boxes needed
- Covering the whole evening from stored power: 5 kWh gets a typical home through the night
- Cheap-tariff charging overnight (works with Octopus and 870+ UK suppliers)
- Siting outdoors and growing later, up to 30 kWh
Who should skip it
- DIY plug-in today: UK rules still require an electrician despite the plug-in design
- Homes with only one or two panels: a 5 kWh battery may rarely fill up
- Anyone who hasn't checked with their installer whether the G98 or G99 grid route applies
What you need
- A Part P registered electrician, a dedicated wired circuit, and ideally Anker's smart meter for full tariff features
- Without the smart meter only basic manual mode works: no automatic cheap/peak shifting
- Anker app account; works with third-party panels too
- Strong 2,500W output where installed and allowed: top of the plug-in class
- Panels plug in directly, no extra inverter boxes
- Fast 10-millisecond backup for essentials
- Has UK grid approval (G98) and is officially listed
- Weatherproof box, 10,000-charge battery, 10-year warranty
- Not a simple plug-in job in the UK today: electrician required
- £1,699 before panels, meter and installation
- 50 kg: pick a spot and leave it there
- Anker's savings figures (up to £770/year, payback in ~3.3 years) are their own model, not a promise
Common questions
Can I install the Solarbank 4 E5000 Pro myself into a normal socket?
Not in the UK right now. The box is built for plug-in use and ships with a plug cable, but Anker's UK guidance says a Part P registered electrician must wire it in. Anker says it will issue plug-in guidance if UK rules and product standards change.
Does it have UK grid approval?
Yes. Anker says it holds G98 certification (the standard approval for small grid-connected devices) and is officially listed. Your installer should still confirm whether the G98 or the larger G99 route fits your setup.
Which energy suppliers and tariffs work with it?
Any UK grid connection works for basic use. Automatic cheap/peak shifting works with 870+ suppliers, including Octopus, British Gas, E.ON Next, OVO, EDF and ScottishPower, as long as your supplier offers a cheap-hours tariff.
Does it work in a power cut?
Yes, for anything plugged into its dedicated backup socket: up to 2,500W, switching over automatically in 10 milliseconds, and switching back when the grid returns.
Worth comparing with
Sources
- Anker SOLIX UK — Solarbank 4 E5000 Pro product page (size, output, backup, approval, £1,699 pre-sale)checked 2026-09-03
- Anker SOLIX UK — Solarbank 4 E5000 Pro guide (5,024Wh, 4 solar inputs, weight, size, warranty)checked 2026-09-03
- Tech Digest — Solarbank 4 Pro UK launch (£1,699 pre-sale, £1,299 add-on, 10,000 charges)checked 2026-09-03
- Amazon UK — Anker SOLIX Solarbank 4 Pro 5kWh listing (model match)checked 2026-09-03