Maximize your self-consumption

Self-consumption is the part of your solar production that you consume directly on site, at the very moment it is produced. Historically, reselling your electricity to the network was profitable, but with the drastic increase in the cost of purchased electricity (often > 30 cents/kWh) and the drop in take-back prices (< 10 cents/kWh), the calculation has radically changed.

The basic principle: one kWh that you produce and consume saves you 30 cents (the price you would have paid). On the other hand, this same kWh resold only brings you 8. The economic interest is therefore to shift your household consumption as much as possible during sunshine hours (from 10h to 15h).

Without optimization, an average household only self-consumes 30% of its production, because consumption peaks occur in the morning and evening, when the sun is low or has set. To make the installation profitable more quickly, action must be taken on the two other major energy expenditure items: hot water and heating.

Implement an Intelligent Management System (EMS - Energy Management System).

The most profitable investment even before purchasing a battery is a driver for your water heater. Devices like the Fronius Ohmpilot or solar routers detect excess energy not used by the house and send it instantly to the electrical resistance of the hot water boiler. You thus transform your water tank into a huge thermal battery, thus erasing all the electricity consumption of hot water over the year.

Then, postpone the operation of your large household appliances (washing machines, dishwashers) until midday using delayed starts. Finally, consider fully integrating home automation (Smart Home) compatible with your inverter to automate these energy flows without thinking about it.