In Fribourg, compare heating, solar generation and storage using your building’s data. Savings depend on consumption, equipment and the tariff for your address; a battery is not automatically necessary.
Start with the building and its energy use Request an assessment of heating demand, insulation, emitters and operating temperatures. Heat-pump consumption cannot be inferred from a fixed share of every household’s bill. Compare settings, renovation and replacement using seasonal performance and full cost.
Align generation and consumption Compatible scheduling can shift some hot-water preparation or heating towards solar hours. Check controls, comfort, efficiency and warranty. A heating buffer and a domestic hot-water tank serve different purposes. Increasing self-consumption is not useful if it creates unnecessary consumption.
Assess winter separately Request monthly and hourly profiles: solar generation and heating demand do not coincide throughout the year. High winter self-consumption does not mean panels cover all heating. Include necessary grid purchases, periods without sunshine and actual tariffs in the calculation.
Assess the battery and backup Physical storage is limited by power, usable capacity and state of charge. Compare a version without a battery for the same home and uses. A commercial “virtual storage” credit supplies neither heat nor power during an outage. Separately confirm backed-up circuits, heat-pump starting requirements and switching time.
Have professionals configure controls Weather forecasts and control functions depend on models and interfaces. Ask which functions are supplied and tested. Do not prescribe overheating or deep discharge from a general rule: limits must suit the building, occupants, manufacturer and backup reserve.
Prepare the budget and grant applications Separate photovoltaic equipment, heating, storage and additional work in the quote. Confirm grants and application timing before deducting support. Compare costs, maintenance, finance and replacement under several tariff and consumption assumptions.
A Fribourg example: consumption changing after renovation Suppose a household plans an electric car and more time at home after renovating. This is an assumption to test, rather than a forecast for the whole canton. Prepare current and future profiles to identify what actually depends on those new uses.
For charging, specify when the vehicle will be parked and expected mileage. Having a charger does not mean the car can absorb the entire day’s generation. Check power sharing with other equipment and scheduling options.
Then measure how time at home affects consumption hours. Ask the calculation to retain a version where future plans are delayed or abandoned. The installation should remain financially understandable even if habits change less than expected.
Before signing, specify the data used and the method for checking results after commissioning. Who compares estimates with readings? Which adjustments are included in follow-up? These details help distinguish a consumption difference from a technical problem without promising a fixed result.