[Someone1234]

I've looked into this extensively in the US, and there are three headaches from my POV:

1. Most states require special device certification by a "nationally recognized authority" that doesn't seem to fully exist yet. There ARE devices that would almost certainly GET certified, but aren't yet.

2. Ordering panels is a PITA. Most want to sell you either RV/Camping grade (overpriced), or in too large of quantities (e.g. 10x+). If you want to hit under 1,200 Watts meaning just 2x 600 Watt panels, well, nobody wants to ship that. Most popular panel vendors, don't want to sell single-panels, and you're looking at 500% markup for camping/RV style panels (with often worse performance, and proprietary connectors).

3. "Moveable" panel requirements. The laws frequently don't define what that means or what that looks like. It seems to want to essentially ban a small roof install, but stuff like ground-mounting (e.g. even just for the angle), or securing so they don't blow over, is ambiguous. Plus most laws don't exempt you from planning requirements, just utility requirements, so the local city/county can still fine you for your "install."

What I am saying is: I'm absolutely in love with plug-in solar, but unfortunately being an early adopter in the US is going to be annoying. I hope in ten years it will be almost turn-key, just buy a "kit" plug it in, and you're done.

[syntaxing]

Point 1 isn’t true anymore as of this week. The first UL3700 inverter from Hoymiles just got approved and is being sold by Bright Saver for consumers https://www.brightsaver.org/balcony-solar-kits

[hasbot]

I think point 2 will change once this becomes common. Once there is demand Home Depot etc are the perfect place to sell individual medium sized panels.

Hopefully it won't take 10 years for this to become easy.

[m463]

Does the UK have Home Depot? maybe Castle Depot? Lorry Supply?

[tialaramex]

The UK has quite a few kinds of "Do It Yourself" stores, from somewhere like B&Q that is catering primarily for consumers through to a Screwfix who are more trade focused but still open to the public.

This particular niche is one where the UK did a lot of the US-style "Business is just a large metal shed, surround it with car parking, build it miles from anywhere" whereas for a lot of other shops the UK doesn't do that, preferring to put them together in walkable parts of a city or town instead. DIY stores are just especially suited to huge metal sheds in a way that furniture stores or grocery stores are not (those do both exist in the form of giant metal sheds in the UK but it's less common) - and their customers typically drive.

[m463]

> DIY stores are just especially suited to huge metal sheds in a way that furniture stores or grocery stores are not

Can't help but think of ikea or costco (whose international equivalent seems to be walmart)