We've already researched this. I just bought a unit for my off the grid cabin that will handle my lighting, refrigeration, Cpap, and the electricity needed to operate a self contained toilet. Since the cabin is at 3600 ft elevation any AC needs will com from these microcooling AC that one freezes cartridges in the freezer for. Heat comes from a wood stove. In addition all computer recharging as well as phone for any offline uses.

None of this stuff is hard or expensive, particularly, but there is a degree of planning and experimentation. I bought a small unit first and ran some tests.

Note: Prop the panels up a little bit. If you lay them flat on the grass, tempting to do in the summer with the sun overhead, they will kill the grass in pretty short order. The heat is hot.

EcoFlow launched its PowerStream Balcony System last year, a plug-and-play sort of system designed for apartments, but instead of the panels linking directly to your wall outlets, it utilizes a power station, microinverter, and "smart plugs" to feed power back into your home, still via wall outlets. The kit doesn't generate much power, nor is it available in the U.S. yet (I don't think). It, too, is increasingly popular in Europe, I read.

It costs about $2200 in U.S. dollars. There's no real install involved and the flat cables it utilizes can run under existing doors or windows so that no drilling is required to accommodate them.

I've bought three smaller EcoFlow power stations over the last year, as well as the solar panels recommended for each unit. Really, in this little townhouse condo I'm in these days (with stairs), I prefer having several smaller power stations to one larger one. My biggest power station is just 26 pounds and two of my three solar panels are of the flexible monocrystaline type, so just 5 pounds each.

I don't have the ability to plug my solar power directly into my house, of course, but until I know more about the safety of these plug-and-play systems, I have some concerns for them--especially in connected housing like I'm in, where I could risk burning down my neighbor's house, too, ha.

But *IF* I should next add a plug-and-play system, I'd go with EcoFlow. I'm really impressed with their products.

That 2023 article:

(link...)

From the EcoFlow-Europe site, more on specs and their various plug-and-play bundles:

(link...)

Ah, here's a much better and more current link (May 2024) reviewing EcoFlow's PowerStream Balcony System--although this guy has sunk $4,000 plus into his rig.

And yes, as of May, still not available in the U.S.

(link...)