More of us are moving towards renewable energy as a safe, sustainable, and cost-effective way to provide power.
With the growing global rise in cost of living/energy prices, plus the ever-present concerns of fossil fuels on the environment, it makes sense to look into solar power - particularly for those living off-grid.
Those of us who rely on generators as a means of supplying energy will no doubt be tired of the gas or fuel options, which are expensive, noisy to run, bad for the environment, and can often be faulty and unreliable, which can lead to hefty maintenance bills.
The better solution? Solar power portable power stations, of course.
Whether you’re living off-grid, travelling, going camping, or would just like a portable power station in your home as another resource, we look into what option is the best portable power station in the UK for 2023.
What are Portable Power Stations?
A portable power station is a smaller version of a generator, by any other name. Typically, they are designed to provide emergency energy during a power outage to temporarily reinstate your go-to electric appliances.
As off-grid living is becoming more and more favoured, portable power stations can be extremely useful for providing power to items such as lights, televisions, and coffee machines, as well as charging your devices.
You can use a portable power station to generate energy from solar panels to power your devices in a way that isn’t reliant on fossil fuels.
What is the Best Portable Power Station in the UK?
So, here’s the deal - we actually couldn’t decide on just one best portable power station in the UK - so we chose three…
#1. EB55 Portable Power Station | 700W 537Wh
Details at a glance:
- 700W AC Pure Sine Wave Inverter (1,400W Surge)
- 537Wh Capacity
- LiFePO4 Battery with 2,500+ Life Cycles to 80%
- 11 Outputs For Multiple Devices
- 6 Ways to Recharge (AC/Solar/Car/Generator/AC+Solar/Dual AC)
- 200W Max. Solar Input
- 400W Max. Fast Dual Charging (Solar + AC Adapter Simultaneously)
- Eco-friendly/Gas free/Quiet/Cost-effective
A portable power station that has won an award?! Where do we sign up?
Whether you’re camping, caravaning, van-living, or just off-gridding in general, this portable power station will do the job - and then some.
It boasts a 537Wh capacity and has a powerful built-in inverter with a surge of 1400 watts, which can run all of your living appliances (fridge, freezer, radios, etc.), as well as charging up your mobile phone, laptop, or iPad.
What we love about this portable power station is just how dang portable it is! It’s super lightweight and compact, making it easy to carry and store. It also recharges quickly. We like to call it the small energy solution with the big performance!
You can buy this portable power station here.
#2. AC200MAX Expandable Power Station | 2,200W 2,048Wh
Details at a glance:
- 2,200W AC Pure Sine Wave Inverter (4,800W Surge).
- 2,048Wh Capacity.
- LiFePO4 Battery with 3,500+ Life Cycles to 80%
- Expandable Up To 6,144Wh with 2×B230, or 8,192Wh with 2×B300
- 7 Ways to Recharge (AC/Solar/Car/Generator/Lead Battery/Dual AC/AC+Solar)
- 900W Max. Solar Input
- 1300W Max. Fast Dual Charging (Solar + AC Adapter)
- Smart Control & Monitor in BLUETTI App
If your portable power station needs are on a bigger scale, this generator will have you covered.
It provides a whopping 8192 watts, which allows you to indulge in up to 70 cups of coffee from your coffee maker, one hour’s worth of cooking from your electric grill, up to 28 hours from your fridge, up to 7 hours of air-con, and over 50 hours of light (with 10-watt bulbs).
You’ll also get 2+2 years of hassle-free extended warranty too.
You can buy this portable power station here.
#3. EB3A Portable Power Station
Details at a glance:
- 600W AC Pure Sine Wave Inverter (1,200W surge);
- 268Wh Capacity;
- 430W Max. Fast Dual Charging (Solar+AC);
- LiFePO4 Battery with 2,500+ Life Cycles to 80%;
- 6 Ways to Recharge (AC/Solar/Car/Generator/AC+Solar/AC+Adapter);
- 8 Outputs for Charging Multiple Devices at once;
- Smart Control & Monitor in BLUETTI App;
- 200W Max. Solar Input;
- Easy to Carry/ Fast Charging/ Safe & Reliable/ Cost-effective.
If you’re on a tighter budget, this is the most inexpensive option of the three.
This super lightweight solar powered generator boasts full charging in around an hour, as well as six ways to recharge it (including AC, solar panels, your car, etc.).
If safety is at the forefront of your mind, this portable power station allows you to rest assured that the LiFe404 battery and BMS (battery management system) allows for both improved power and safety, particularly in comparison to traditional Lithium-ion cells.
The in-built BMS is designed to monitor and protect your devices from any and every potential risks.
You can buy this portable power station here.
Solar Power Generator vs Traditional Generators
If you’re considering investing in a portable generator or portable power station, and are umming and ahhing over whether to opt for a traditional one or a solar powered one, we urge you to choose the latter. Here’s why:
Reliable & Less Maintenance
Solar power portable power stations (UK) require a lot less maintenance than traditional gas or fuel ones - also, because they rely on sunlight (instead of fossil fuels), there’s no risk of running out of power. Even on a cold and rainy day in the UK, you’ll still get a little juice.
Gas and fuel items are notorious for needing regular maintenance and repairs. They also need to run occasionally between uses. This is called “exercising” and it is to ensure the generator is safe and tuned up. You also need constant access to fuel, which can be a hindrance.
Because solar power generators require no additional resources to help them function, as well as little-to-no maintenance, you will also be considerably more in pocket.
Less Noise
Traditional generators are nothing if not noisy! Solar power stations are virtually noiseless, save a gentle ‘whirring’ from the inverter that most people can barely hear. This means you can run your generator any time of the day or night without distracting your work/sleep, disturbing local wildlife, or upsetting any neighbours!
Zero Pollution
Gas and fuel are high-pollution resources. Gas emits carbon monoxide, which is also potentially fatal if over-exposed to us humans.
So, for those looking to watch their carbon footprint and live in a more environmentally-responsible (not to mention safe) way, a portable power station is the obvious solution. Solar power requires only one resource - sun rays.
Ideal for Off-Grid Living
Those wanting to step away from the rat race and be more at one with nature will find that solar power is a no-brainer.
However, if you still rely on certain devices, like laptops and smartphones, you can keep them charged, as well as keeping a constant supply to your living arrangements.
Best Portable Power Station in the UK: FAQs
#1. How long can a portable power station run?
That depends on the power station and the solar panels you have - not to mention the number of appliances/devices you are using.
Typically though, low-watt stations can provide around ten hours’ of energy, whereas higher wattage, will of course, provide more hours’ worth. The batteries you use also play a part too.
#2. How do I know what is the right portable power station for me?
When investing in a portable power station, take into account the following:
- What your maximum power draw is/will be. This will define the size of the inverter you need.
- How many plug sockets you require.
- What do you need the power station for? For example, as an emergency back-up, or for living off-grid, etc.
- What are the reviews saying? When investing in any product or service, it is always wise to do your research and look into reviews and testimonials to check for reliability, stealth, etc.
- What is your budget? Portable power stations come at different prices, so price-compare and choose accordingly.
- Does the power station you’ve got your eye on come with a good warranty?
Read the full solar generator buying guide.
#3. What are the highest wattage appliances?
When relying purely on solar power or other renewable energy, it can be wise to review your appliances and try to stick with low-wattage options only. Obviously, this is rarely one-hundred percent doable, and sometimes it can be difficult to know what items are eating energy more than others - so here’s a quick guide:
High-Watt:
- Electric kettles
- Induction hobs
- Hair dryers
Mid-Watt:
- Toasters
- Blenders
- Electric heaters
Low-Watt:
- Device chargers (including laptops, drones, and smartphones)
- Smart TVs
- SUP board pumps
#4. Is a portable solar power station the same as a solar generator?
Effectively, they are incredibly similar, as they both rely on solar rays to charge a battery to then provide power. Typically, a portable power station is just that - more portable!
#5. Can a solar power station provide energy for a house?
At present, these items aren’t geared towards energising an entire house (particularly a large one). They are more beneficial as an emergency solution for a power outage, or for those living off-grid, such as in a converted van, caravan, RV, canal barge, and so on.
