Smart energy technologies combined

Using low carbon technologies together

In an era where sustainability meets innovation, integrating smart technologies into your home has never been more crucial or rewarding. This guide is your gateway to understanding and optimizing the benefits of these technologies.

Integrating heat pumps, solar panels, EVs, and battery storage systems offers a pathway to a more sustainable and efficient lifestyle. Embrace these technologies today to shape a brighter, greener future for tomorrow.

Powering your home

Each technology plays a role in lowering your carbon footprint and energy costs.

• Heat pumps efficiently heat and cool your home by extracting heat from the air or ground
• Solar panels harness the sun's energy to power your home, while surplus electricity can be exported to grid or stored in batteries to use during peak times or evenings
• Electic vehicles (EVs) can be integrated with your home's energy system to charge on a smart tariff which avoids charging at peak times
• Battery storage systems provide backup power during outages and control of energy costs

Understanding how to use these technologies correctly is key to maximizing their benefits. Whether you're interested in reducing your carbon footprint, lowering energy bills or enhancing energy independence.

Here are some of the most common technologies households use together.

Solar + electric vehicles (EVs)

Maximising on-site consumption of your renewable energy will give your the biggest savings on your bills. After all, it reduces the need to pay for electricity from your energy provider. Install your PV panels where they'll have the greatest exposure to sunlight, with minimal shade. You can use your solar generation to charge your EV, particularly at peak times.

Smart charging

Smart charging stations can schedule EV charging for peak solar production times. This effectively uses your solar energy and reduces the cost of charging. Regularly maintaining your PV panels and EVs is vital to getting the best from them.

Shifting time of use

Shifting EV charging to times of excess generation can greatly reduce energy bills. Remember you can use your ESBN portal to get insight into:

• Your energy demand and generation patterns
• Periods with the highest energy costs
• When excess generation is being sent to the grid

If your EV is not parked at home during the day, the next best time for charging is off-peak periods. Particularly focus on during the night, when electricity prices are lower. Weekends are also a great chance for daytime charging at home. Automating this process will help to maximise efficiency.

Solar + heat pump

It's best to install solar panels south facing, where they'll get maximum sunlight exposure. Heat pumps should be correctly sized and designed for your home.

Maintaining the right temperature

When producing heat, you want to avoid losing as much as possible. Start by checking the air tightness of your home. From there, be sure to add insulation, draught-proofing, ventilation and heat recovery system where needed.

Being energy efficient means only generating as much heat as you need to stay comfortable. Using smart thermostats and appropriate settings for different rooms is a good way to keep your space at the right temperature.

Shifting time of use

Adopting smart behaviours will help you to make the most of your solar PV and heat pump. Be sure to shift your energy use to periods of highest solar production. This means you maximise on-site consumption and reduce how much electricity you need to purchase.

Selling your excess to the grid during the day is less economical than using it yourself. This is because the credit received is lower than the electricity price. Instead, you can set your heat pump to heat your water during times of peak solar generation and store it in a hot water tank.

EV + solar + heat pump

Solar panels with maximum daylight exposure and minimal shade produce the most electricity.

Plan for peak sunshine

When using solar power, charge your EV during peak sunlight hours. Heat pumps are very efficient at using electricity for heating, cooling and hot water. Setting the system to use solar generation where possible will save on costs.

Shifting time of use

Heating your water when there is excess generation leads to even greater savings. By engaging in smart habits to shift your energy consumption, you can significantly reduce your energy costs. You can keep track of energy production and consumption through your ESBN portal.

Charging your electric vehicle during non-peak hours means you pay the lowest price possible for your purchased electricity. Shifting hot water generation to the lowest price period (typically during the night) will further reduce costs.

EV + solar + heat pump + battery

Solar panels with maximum daylight exposure and minimum shade produce the most electricity. Charge your EV during peak sunlight hours to make the most of your solar power. Setting your heat pump to consume solar generation, where possible, will result in low-cost heating.

Use energy generation effectively

Battery storage allows for surplus electricity to be stored for later use, when generation is lower or prices are highest. A smart energy management system will help to keep track of energy production and consumption. It can help to operate the combination of technologies efficiently with minimal manual effort.

Shifting time of use

Getting the most out of your systems means shifting how you use energy. For example, solar production is at its greatest on a sunny day. Charge your EV and do energy-intensive tasks like laundry and cooking when the sun is shining.

Save even more by charging your battery using excess solar generation. You can then plan your demand at peak price times and switch to battery power. Shifting hot water generation to these cheaper periods will also lead to savings.