Changed conditions such as the dynamic and capacity tariff significantly extend the payback period for investments in solar panels. A typical family of four with an electric car and solar panels without an energy management system (EMS) misses out on a lot of money: up to more than €800 per year.
Solar panels without smart control do not know when to manage a peak in consumption. When a family has opted for a dynamic tariff, the situation becomes even more complex. The price of electricity consumed changes from hour to hour. In that case, an EMS will synchronize all parameters: the tariffs, the solar yield, charging or using the home battery, charging the electric car, weather forecasts, the use of smart sockets, etc.
Lieven Van Crombrugge, CEO of Elicity, explains where families with solar panels and electric cars without an EMS are missing out on all that money. “Through our energy management system Jullix, we get interesting data. We compare two families of four people with 12 solar panels of 420W, a home battery of 10kWh, and an electric car that drives 25,000 km per year. The daily electricity consumption is 4750kWh, and charging the car amounts to 4250kWh. With and without EMS, the annual yield of solar panels is €811 and that of the home battery is €529.”
But those who combine solar panels, an electric car, and a home battery with an EMS achieve real returns: “Control with the dynamic tariff brings in €293 annually. Control with the capacity tariff yields €134.76. The control of smart sockets that combat standby consumption is worth €38.11 per year. Optimized charging sessions of the car are the biggest jackpot. With an EMS, the family saves an additional €422.85.” The total difference amounts to €888.45 per year.