Solyx Vitality has developed a tool to extend photo voltaic self-consumption in residential houses. The sensor measures how a lot solar energy will be fed again into the grid at completely different instances, whereas a controller redirects the surplus power to an electrical water heater.
Dutch photo voltaic startup Solyx Vitality has developed a system to spice up residential self-consumption of PV.
“The idea is to retailer extra solar energy for households within the type of sizzling water,” mentioned Solyx Vitality co-founder Emma Snaak. pv journal, it’s famous that the know-how will be paired with PV modules and water heaters of any model and capability, however is handiest with single-phase inverters.
The answer consists of two elements. A sensor with a measuring clamp attaches to the family grid connection – often an electrical energy meter – and the Photo voltaic iBoost controller. The clamp attaches to the ability line to be measured. It detects the route of energy movement, and constantly measures the quantity of extra PV energy despatched to the grid. The sensor, powered by two AA batteries, then communicates that worth to the Photo voltaic iBoost, wirelessly through radio waves with a spread of 1 meter to 30 meters.
“The sensor measures the online exported solar energy. That’s essential to grasp how the answer works. Not solely how a lot photo voltaic is generated, but in addition considering the consumption of the home,” defined Snaak.
The Photo voltaic iBoost is related to an electrical water heater. It has a voltage vary from 220 V to 240 V, a most load of three kW, and a weight of 1.36 kg. The controller regulates the quantity of power fed into the water heater to the precise worth measured by the sensor. On this method, no export of solar energy to the grid takes place.
“Water tanks are often turned on or off,” he mentioned.
Photo voltaic iBoost modulates the power enter to the water heater to match various photo voltaic manufacturing and family electrical energy consumption. The mentioned benefit is that the water can begin heating with a minimal of 100 W of energy, in comparison with the same old 2 kW to three kW, in response to Snaak.
“The water is simply heated by extra PV energy, which varies all through the day,” he mentioned. “If there’s much less solar, otherwise you’re utilizing your vacuum cleaner, it is much less sizzling. If there’s extra solar or home equipment aren’t getting used, it is hotter.”
The machine maximizes photo voltaic self-consumption and, at €595 ($638) together with value-added tax (VAT), it’s a cheaper different to most batteries or warmth pumps. Solyx Vitality predicts common financial savings of €338 a yr for Dutch households. The answer can be utilized along with power storage and warmth pumps for house heating, however not with warmth pump boilers. Snaak argues that Photo voltaic iBoost is a greater match for photo voltaic PV than warmth pumps.
“Warmth pumps are very environment friendly when they’re at all times on and supply just a little warmth all through the day. If in case you have extra electrical energy now and also you wish to use it, warmth pumps will not be very environment friendly,” he mentioned. “With electrical heater and with Photo voltaic iBoost, you may flip it on when there are peaks in your photo voltaic, or flip it off when you’ve a load. That balancing act that you are able to do all through the day is what I believe may be very fascinating in rising tendencies corresponding to versatile power tariffs.
The product at present doesn’t supply the choice to change on or off in response to probably the most worthwhile tariff, however it has the potential to take action sooner or later. Solyx at present solely presents the product within the Netherlands and Belgium, however it says it would take into account increasing to the remainder of Europe and different world markets after consolidating its presence within the two international locations.
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