@neil Oh! THAT'S why there are dark skies and thunderstorms. It's always the government's fault. 😉

More seriously, this is brilliant news. For a smaller upfront fee folks can get a technology that will save them money on their energy bills and renters can take it with them when they move.

@neil Oooh, that IS good.

@neil not batteries, not zero VAT, and not covered by your home insurance. Definitely do 2 panels and a micro inverter if you can though!

We are VERY happy with our ‘plug-in’ solar system with 4 panels and a battery that we had professionally installed earlier this year. The VAT savings covered half of the labour costs, and I wasn’t the one lugging massive panels around!

@neil #Ireland next?

@neil I can’t help feeling that it’s extremely poor planning to launch plug in solar just as solar output is about to plunge towards the winter minimum.

@neil

"This can run a typical fridge, television, Wi-Fi router, laptop, phone charger and an Xbox S operating at once when the sun is shining." Fairly specific for a government piece... why not a PS5 or an Atari 2600+?

@neil just as its started raining....

@neil

The UK safety specification is more stringent than that of Germany, where the technology is already widely used…

Major retailers, such as Currys, B&Q, Screwfix and Amazon have worked with government on the rollout of plug-in solar and will soon have them available to purchase in stores and online.

Why does the expression “regulatory capture” float into my mind?

@neil No certified kit is on sale yet.

@neil Great news!

Our experience here in Germany suggests that the decision whether to install these systems is a no-brainer. Recently, one of the discount supermarkets here had 2 panels + inverter for sale for 205€.

At current prices, they should pay for themselves in 4-5 years, even under conservative assumptions.

Germany recently updated the rules so that renters don’t need the landlord’s permission to install panels - that’s helpful too.

@neil I've already got solar on the boat and even I'm considering supplementing it with a plug in for a bit extra

@neil and just like that, the whining of a million electricians and their electrical trade bodies began.

@neil This is good news. The cynical in me finds it weird that the timing coincides with the advent of so many data centers. Maybe is a way to liberate some grid capacity or prepare people for higher bills?

Anyways, more solar is always good regardless.

@neil Thanks for the info.

Dumb question to more knowledgeable people: how does the "plug in" bit work?

Does it mean the solar panel has sockets that you plug your devices directly into (and your Xbox turns off if the sun goes in, assuming no battery), or that it plugs in to your domestic mains and reduces the power draw from the external grid?

@neil very annoying this excludes battery storage! But finally some positive movement.. hurrah!

@neil
We worked out it would take 8 years to pay back. Saving us £70 to £100 a year. We are late 70s early 80s in a listed housing estate

@neil

It may be helpful but only if you can include batteries in the system.

Looking into the options now 😉

@neil this is garbage. all it serves is to distract from a lack of investment in real solar. frankly I despise this idea that solar is a primarily residential technology

any significant amount of plugin solar is a serious risk because these cheap controllers' backflow protection can't be trusted.

@Floppy It's still on my list and shelf. Soon...

@Floppy would it be good for a 13 year old who needs a break from dystopian fiction ?

Sounds good for me anyway... but I already have a reading list...

@rixx something with bearings on the wheels rather than bushings. But this is a surprisingly rare feature...

A friend once took an electric wheelbarrow to Glastonbury - that was pretty good.

@rixx I keep bringing my cheap IKEA one which is held together more with duct tape and ratchet webbing than itself these days. I do not recommend... But it keeps going despite me assuming every trip will be its last.

@marshant had a Burley Travoy and I think I might save up for it: bike trailer and hand cart that folds up nicely and seems pretty robust and repairable.

@rixx i got the decathlon one in 2024 and it’s done 2 emfs now and had no issue 😌

@rixx MoverX 150L is simple and compact to fold away when empty, others of similar size that I've packed away have ended up being more bulky and with more bits to lose/forget

@rixx If you are feeling constructional, this has served me very well for several camps. Folds up small, expands very big, has not yet been defeated by terrain.

https://jarkman.co.uk/catalog/luggage/collapsingtrolleyv2.htm

@sam I'm not Romsey based but might be worth asking the folks at IBM Hursley: they have a maker space and lots of people from that office live in Romsey

@sam

I'm not Romsey based, but have experience of Repair cafes setting up (we've volunteered at 4 or 5). Flyers in libraries might be a good start, but if you can find the local Green party, they may have links to groups/folk who are interested. Also look up other Repair Cafes in Hampshire who may have good leads.

And go for it. We really enjoy being involved. Any other questions about setting up, ask away....

@sam Hi! I’m committee at Ringwood Repair Café and attend the County Council Repair Café Network - fancy a drink? (I tried DECTing you but the phones are sad - try 5730)

@sam can strongly recommend going to a couple of surrounding ones and talking to people there. You may find other fixers who already travel a bit to do it.

I used to do the Reading repair cafe until someone from my own town came in wanting to find out how it worked and I discovered a much easier one to get to.

@sam @vfrmedia

Do you know Lemon and Jinja? Might be worth advertising there, as there might be some like mindedness there.

https://lemonandjinja.com

@sam not thr same area but maybe they can help give you some guidance.

@sam
You would be surprised how much I actually want that.

@sam Oh wow. Approaching peak nerdiness. :-) Love it!