5 Off-Grid Energy Management Systems for UK Vans

Off-grid energy management systems for UK campervans compared. See how SRNE and Skyenergi components manage battery, solar and loads, with prices in GBP.

Quick Summary

An off-grid energy management system is the set of components that decides where a van's power comes from, where it goes, and when it gets cut off. It coordinates solar input, battery charging, DC distribution and monitoring, so off-grid energy management stays organised across the whole van.

A working system needs generation, conversion and charging, storage, and distribution with monitoring.
The SRNE Eco System Complete Solution is a £695.00 full kit covering charging, control and monitoring.
The SRNE Eco System Starter Kit at £365.00 suits owners who already have a charger or solar controller.
The SRNE DB12 is a 12-way distribution hub with individually fused outputs for per-circuit monitoring.
The Skyenergi Edge 100Ah Lithium Leisure Battery costs £219.00 and uses a 100A JBD battery management system.

What an Off-Grid Energy Management System Does in a Van
How We Compared These Systems
Quick Comparison Table
1. SRNE Eco System Complete Solution: The Full Kit Option
2. SRNE Eco System Starter Kit: Building the Control Core First
3. SRNE CU Series and DB12: Control and Distribution Together
4. Victron SmartShunt and SmartSolar MPPT: Monitoring and Solar Charging
5. Skyenergi Edge Lithium Battery With Monitoring: The Storage Core
Frequently Asked Questions

5 Off-Grid Energy Management Systems for UK Vans

Last Updated: October 26, 2026

What an Off-Grid Energy Management System Does in a Van

An off-grid energy management system is the set of components that decides where your van's power comes from, where it goes, and when it gets cut off. In practice, that means coordinating solar input, battery charging, a DC distribution panel and the monitoring that tells you how much charge you have left.

Skyenergi supplies SRNE components and lithium batteries for these systems. A system can coordinate solar input, battery charging, DC distribution and monitoring.

A working system usually needs four jobs covered:

Generation: solar panels and, where fitted, a DC-to-DC charger from the alternator.
Conversion and charging: MPPT charge controllers that match panel output to the battery.
Storage: a lithium battery with its own battery management system.
Distribution and monitoring: fused circuits for each load, plus data on state of charge and current draw.

The five systems below cover different points in that chain. Some are complete kits. Others are individual components you can build around.

How We Compared These Systems

The comparison is based on the specifications in each product listing, not on field tests.

Lithium battery bank and monitoring display mounted on a wooden campervan interior wall

Price is shown in GBP as listed on the Skyenergi website at the time of writing.

!A UK campervan interior with a lithium battery bank, control display and monitoring screen mounted neatly on a wooden panel, daylight from a side window

Quick Comparison Table

System	Type	Starting Price	Monitoring	Best For
SRNE Eco System Complete Solution	Full kit	£695.00	Touchscreen and app	Building a complete system in one purchase
SRNE Eco System Starter Kit	Control core	£365.00	Touchscreen and app	Adding components over time
SRNE CU Series and DB12	Control and distribution	£141.00 (CU) / £297.00 (DB12)	Per-circuit monitoring	Organising a wiring layout
Victron SmartShunt and SmartSolar MPPT	Monitoring and charging	£54.84 (SmartShunt) / £48.95 (MPPT 75/15)	Bluetooth app	Upgrading monitoring and solar charging
Skyenergi Edge Lithium Battery	Storage	£219.00	Pairs with SmartShunt	Lithium storage at a sensible price

1. SRNE Eco System Complete Solution: The Full Kit Option

The SRNE Eco System Complete Solution costs £695.00. It includes an MPPT controller, a DC-to-DC controller, an AC charger, the CU2 control centre, a 7-inch touchscreen and the BS48500 battery shunt.

Best for: owners who want one purchase that covers charging, monitoring and control.

Skip if: you already have solar and a charger you want to keep, since you would be paying for duplicate hardware.

The SRNE SAA integrates MPPT solar charging, DC/DC charging and AC charging in one unit. The CU2 provides six 6A relay outputs for lights and fans, and supports water level and temperature sensors. Monitoring runs through the touchscreen or the SRNE app over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, so you can check the system remotely when you have a connection.

Skyenergi can provide a quotation for wiring and fusing, along with a schematic diagram to work from.

2. SRNE Eco System Starter Kit: Building the Control Core First

The SRNE Eco System Starter Kit costs £365.00 and includes the CU2, the RMA7 touchscreen and the BS48500 battery shunt.

Best for: owners who already have a solar controller or charger and want monitoring first.

Skip if: you are starting from nothing and need charging included.

The BS48500 battery shunt enables monitoring of battery status, current draw and energy usage. The system can be enhanced with SRNE-compatible MPPT controllers, DC/DC controllers or inverter/chargers, as well as water level and temperature sensors.

3. SRNE CU Series and DB12: Control and Distribution Together

The SRNE CU Series Data Acquisition Control Unit costs £141.00, and the SRNE DB12 Distribution Box costs £297.00. For a complete electrics bundle with inverter, charger and monitoring, the SRNE range can be ordered together.

SRNE CU Series Data Acquisition Control Unit →

Best for: builders who want an organised DC layout with per-circuit monitoring.

Skip if: you only need battery monitoring and have no plans to split the 12V supply into several circuits.

The DB12 is a 12-way DC distribution hub with individually fused outputs. When connected to the CU2, it allows current and voltage monitoring for each circuit via the RMA7 touchscreen or SRNE app. The CU can monitor water and temperature sensors and, with Wi-Fi integration, switch DC circuits remotely.

The CU supports 12V and 24V systems and RS485 and CAN (RV-C protocol) interfaces.

4. Victron SmartShunt and SmartSolar MPPT: Monitoring and Solar Charging

The Victron SmartShunt 300A costs £54.84 and the SmartSolar MPPT 75/15 costs £48.95. Together, they provide battery monitoring and solar charging.

Best for: owners who want accurate battery data and solar charging without a full SRNE kit.

Skip if: you need the touchscreen display or relay-controlled circuits, which these two units do not provide.

The SmartShunt is a battery monitor with no display of its own. It connects by Bluetooth to the VictronConnect app on your phone and reports state of charge, time remaining and historical data. The SmartSolar MPPT uses maximum power point tracking to monitor solar panel voltage and current. Its configurable load output can disconnect a load at a set voltage.

The Skyenergi Edge battery can be paired with a Victron SmartShunt for battery monitoring.

5. Skyenergi Edge Lithium Battery With Monitoring: The Storage Core

The Skyenergi Edge 100Ah Lithium Leisure Battery costs £219.00.

Best for: owners who want lithium storage at a sensible price, and who are happy to add monitoring separately.

Skip if: you need built-in Bluetooth or heated cells, as the Edge range includes neither.

The Edge uses a 100A JBD battery management system and Grade A EVE lithium cells, and its housing is rated IP65. It is available in 4S or 4P configurations. The battery does not include Bluetooth; the listing says it can be paired with a Victron SmartShunt for battery monitoring.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an off-grid energy management system?

An off-grid energy management system coordinates the batteries, solar charging, DC loads and monitoring in a campervan or off-grid building so that power is used and stored efficiently without a mains connection. It typically combines a battery with an MPPT solar charge controller, a control unit that reports state of charge and loads, and distribution fusing for the 12V circuits. The SRNE CU is designed to coordinate communication between compatible SRNE devices, with information available through the RMA4 or RMA7 touchscreen or the app via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

What components do you need for an off-grid power system in a van?

A typical van system needs a lithium leisure battery, an MPPT solar charge controller sized to your panels, a DC-to-DC charger to top up the leisure battery from the alternator while driving, a distribution box such as the SRNE DB12 for fused circuits, and a battery monitor such as the Victron SmartShunt 300A. The SRNE CU2 integrates with compatible SRNE components and can be monitored through the SRNE app or RMA7 touchscreen. Prices start from £49.95 for a battery protection unit and £219.00 for the Skyenergi Edge 100Ah battery.

How does an MPPT solar charge controller help a campervan battery?

An MPPT solar charge controller tracks the voltage and current output of solar panels. The Victron SmartSolar MPPT 75/15, priced at £48.95, has a configurable load output that can disconnect a load at a set voltage, and it can be monitored from a smartphone over Bluetooth. Choosing an MPPT unit rated for your panel wattage is the main sizing decision.

How can you charge a leisure battery while driving?

The SRNE Eco System Complete Solution at £695.00 includes an MPPT controller, a DC/DC controller and an AC charger. The listing describes these as providing solar, DC/DC and AC charging.

Skyenergi builds its range around SRNE and Victron components, so a van system can be assembled from one supplier. Start with the monitoring and control you need now, then add generation and storage as your build grows. The product pages list full specifications, and our team can help you choose the combination that fits your van.

SRNE CU Series Data Acquisition Control Unit