Maximising Solar Battery Potential

Maximising Solar Battery Potential This Summer

As the days grow longer and brighter, it’s the perfect time to optimise your solar battery system (maximising solar battery potential). Here’s how you can make the most of your investment during the sunny season.

Maximising Solar Battery Potential: Understanding Your Solar Battery System

Your solar battery system is a powerhouse of energy management. Here’s a quick refresher on how it works:

1. Energy Storage: Your inverter directs energy from your solar panels, battery or the grid into your battery.
2. Smart Distribution: The inverter monitors your home’s electricity usage and decides when to tap into the battery power.
3. Battery Life Cycle: As you use your battery, its State of Charge (SOC) decreases. Over time, the battery’s capacity to store energy may reduce, which is measured by its Depth of Discharge (DoD).
4. You can used timed charging to communicate with the inverter on when it is best for you to charge your battery on a cheaper rate.

Maximising Efficiency with Time of Use (TOU) Tariffs

If you do or don’t have solar panels, a TOU tariff is crucial for cost-effective battery use. Here’s why:

1. Store energy during cheap off-peak hours
2. Use the stored energy during expensive peak hours

Special Considerations for Heat Pump Owners

If you have an air source heat pump, you’re in luck! You may be eligible for special tariffs with extended off-peak hours. Here’s how to make the most of it:

1. Charge your battery during these extended off-peak times
2. Use the stored energy to power your heat pump throughout the day
3. Monitor your usage closely, as heat pumps can be energy-intensive
4. Utilise solar power to top up your battery during the day

This strategy helps you maximise your system’s efficiency and extend the benefits of cheaper tariffs.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Owners: Double the Benefits

EV and hybrid owners can access even more savings with longer off-peak periods and rates as low as 7.5p/kWh. Here’s how to capitalise on this:

1. Charge your home battery during these ultra-cheap periods
2. Use the stored energy to power your home throughout the day
3. Consider upgrading to a larger home battery to maximise savings
4. Combine with solar for potential grid independence during summer months

EV batteries can range in size depending on many factors such as, plugin/ hybrid or up to a full EV, these will normally need much more energy than the average house, especially in summer, so ideally we want to charge a house hold battery as much as possible on a cheaper rate to cover everything the house needs throughout the day, and with a combination of a larger house battery and solar you can go grid free for prolonged periods!

Timed Discharge: Earn While You Save

The advanced battery systems we install offer a timed export feature. This allows you to sell energy back to the grid during peak demand times, potentially earning you extra income. This is where you store energy at a cheap price, or from the sun and then export it back to the grid during the peak periods for profit. By implementing these strategies, you’ll not only reduce your energy bills but also contribute to a more stable and sustainable energy grid. Make this summer your most efficient yet with your solar battery system!

Author: Ruairidh Crooks Commissioning Engineer at Boxergy

Visit Ruairidh’s LinkedIn profile.