One of our recent Solar + Tesla Powerwall customers has been exploring battery storage, smart tariffs and home energy automation. They wrote in because they were genuinely chuffed with how their system has changed their day-to-day energy use. We asked if we could share it (they said yes), and we think it deserves a home beyond an inbox:
“I’ve recently had a 16-panel solar system fitted by Sunlit Solar along with a Tesla Powerwall 3 and expansion pack, giving me 27kWh of battery storage. I decided to try Octopus Energy’s Agile tariff, which tracks wholesale electric prices that update every 30 minutes. The rates are released in the afternoon of the day before.
“Obviously, you can’t sit and react to these price fluctuations throughout the day, but you can ensure you never miss an opportunity to charge your battery when rates drop.
“I’ve chosen to use the NetZero app, which lets you have a degree of control over the battery charging behaviour. There is a cost with this app of approximately 23p per day. I’m happy to pay this at the moment, as I feel I only need to save 1kWh a day for it to pay for itself.
“What about export, I hear you ask? I’m currently not exporting due to a smart meter fault that is awaiting rectification by Octopus (long story). However, when I have this in place, I will let the Tesla algorithm run alone with Agile import and export for a month and monitor whether it’s maximising my import/export opportunities. From what I understand, the Powerwall doesn’t yet respond automatically to dynamic export rates, so NetZero still manages that side. After the first month, I’ll also run my existing import automation alongside a new export automation and compare the results.
“At this time of year my solar generation is reduced, so starting the day with a relatively-charged battery is a bonus.
“Here are some screenshots of my current automation and overnight usage:
“You can see from the import screenshot that the battery is charging on the green trace. I also have a hot tub which now only heats in the wee small hours and to sleep from 6am, which saves me a considerable amount of money. The hot tub heating is shown on the blue trace.
“I think it’s fair to point out that Agile rates don’t guarantee low pricing every day, however, when cheap/free energy slots become available, I know that I can buy without even realising that it’s happened.”
Steve Payne, Sunlit Solar Customer
As we head deeper into the colder months, more households are discovering the everyday value of pairing solar with storage and smart tariffs, especially when it comes to high-draw appliances or heating systems that can be scheduled intelligently.
There are now plenty of energy companies and apps that offer smart tariffs and their own monitoring tools. Features, pricing and household habits vary, so it’s worth comparing what’s out there and seeing which setup best matches the way you actually use power. Shop around, ask questions, and pick what works for your home, your routine and your budget.
If you already have solar and you’re curious about what battery storage could do for your own setup, a straightforward way to start is via our website enquiry form.
Or, you can also reach us directly at info@sunlit-solar.co.uk if you’d like to ask anything about batteries, load shifting or getting an independent view on your existing solar system.
Phone: 01458 834 936
Email: info@sunlit-solar.co.uk
Website: www.sunlit-solar.co.uk