Optimisation
Getting control of your energy
In previous times most installations did not feature battery storage as their where feed-in-tariffs and opportunities to export electricity back to the grid. In today's landscape and the introduction of flexible tariffs it is well worth the investment to use battery storage to store excess energy generated from a Solar PV array.
Treating the Solar PV as an asset and maximising the asset to reduce the payback period from the initial investment to making sure that your future energy costs are reduced or even negated entirely.
Optimising the storage of energy from your solar pv array will ensure that you are supporting these points.
The optimising also allows for you to take advantage of flexible tariffs and off-peak use and peak rate shaving.
This where Knight & Day Solar Installations are looking to support the installation of solar pv and battery storage throughout its life to maximise the potential.
There is also a wide number of reasons why solar pv generation can reduce over time and without annual maintenance an array can become less performing.
Optimisation enhances the efficiency and benefits of a solar PV system with battery storage, ensuring that your system operates at its best to meet your energy needs while maximising savings. Here’s how optimisation helps:
- Maximising Solar Energy Usage
- Smart Energy Management: Optimisation software intelligently prioritises the use of solar energy. For example:
- Use solar power for immediate consumption when it's generated.
- Store excess energy in the battery for later use instead of exporting it to the grid at low rates.
- Reduced Wastage: Avoids over producing energy that would otherwise go unused or sold at a minimal price.
- Smart Energy Management: Optimisation software intelligently prioritises the use of solar energy. For example:
- Lowering Energy Costs
- Time-of-Use Scheduling: Optimisation systems shift your energy use to times when solar energy or battery power is available. For example:
- Charging batteries during off-peak grid hours (if solar is unavailable).
- Using stored energy during peak-rate times when grid electricity is expensive.
- Peak Shaving: Reduces the amount of energy drawn from the grid during peak demand periods.
- Time-of-Use Scheduling: Optimisation systems shift your energy use to times when solar energy or battery power is available. For example:
- Prolonging Battery Life
- Intelligent Charging and Discharging: Advanced optimisation systems prevent overcharging or deep discharging, which can damage the battery. This ensures your battery lasts longer.
- Load Balancing: Distributes energy loads efficiently, preventing stress on the system and reducing wear and tear.
- Integrating Smart Home Systems
- Device Coordination: Optimisation tools integrate with smart home devices (e.g., EV chargers, heat pumps, and smart appliances). They time energy use to coincide with solar production or battery availability.
- Real-Time Monitoring and Adjustment: Allows homeowners to track energy production, storage, and usage through apps, making adjustments as needed for better efficiency.
- Leveraging Smart Tariffs and Incentives
- Dynamic Tariffs: Optimisation systems can charge your battery during periods of cheap grid electricity (like during off-peak tariffs) and use stored energy during expensive peak periods.
- Grid Export Programmes: In areas with incentives for exporting energy, optimisation systems ensure that surplus energy is exported at the most profitable times.
- Preparing for Energy Demand Changes
- Predictive Analysis: Advanced optimisation systems can predict energy usage patterns based on historical data and weather forecasts, ensuring the system is ready for periods of high demand or low solar production.
- Scalability: Helps you manage additional energy loads, like an electric vehicle, by optimising the system for current and future needs.
- Reducing Carbon Footprint
- Prioritising Renewable Energy: Optimisation ensures maximum use of clean, renewable solar energy and minimises reliance on grid electricity, which often comes from fossil fuels.
- Energy Efficient Operation: Reduces overall energy consumption by using only what is needed at the right times.
- Supporting Grid Stability
- Demand-Side Management: Optimised systems can work with the grid by storing energy during low-demand periods and supplying it back during high-demand times, contributing to grid stability and potentially earning rewards in the process.
- In essence, optimisation transforms your solar and battery system into a smarter, more efficient setup that saves money, extends hardware life, and aligns with a sustainable energy future.