In Valais, 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 situation to assess in Valais: an intermittently occupied home In this example, a residence is used on some weekends and during holidays. This assumption must match your home; it does not describe every Valais property. Build an occupancy calendar before calculating consumption instead of using the profile of a family present all year.
Distinguish operation during absence from warming the home before arrival. Have settings needed to protect the building validated. Remote controls must respect equipment limits and remain usable by the person responsible for maintenance.
For the roof in question, request an assessment of the horizon, shading, snow and access. A good annual result does not establish energy availability during your chosen winter visit. Compare those periods explicitly in the simulation.
Finally, calculate what happens to surplus when nobody is present. Check remuneration, contractual restrictions and ongoing charges. If backup is a goal, define essential uses and required runtime. Neither an app nor a billing credit replaces that technical assessment.