First smart home energy product, Engensa’s, Solar24

Engensa has announced the launch of an innovative product designed to help homeowners solve the problem of affordable storage for solar energy.

Solar24, Engensa’s first smart home energy product, automatically diverts excess energy produced by a solar array to a customer’s hot water tank, rather than exporting it back to the grid.

On average, around half of the energy generated by a domestic solar PV system is exported back to the grid. Solar24 allows homeowners to harness and utilise every kWh produced by their system, slashing heating and electricity bills at the same time.

Early research and pilot studies have shown that those properties with Solar24 enjoyed a 10 percent saving on their water heating bills, equating to about £60 per year.

John Spens, a member of the pilot test group, commented: “On bright days, Solar24 heats our home’s hot water for free, using the excess solar power.” He added: “From spring to autumn we plan to turn off the central heating boiler altogether and use solar power to work the immersion heater at zero cost.”

“Solar24 truly maximises the utility and potential of solar energy: it not only saves homeowners money, it will support the integration of solar energy into the national grid,” said Toby Ferenczi, Engensa’s Chief Technology Officer. “By further increasing the returns of solar PV, this will bring us closer to the point where solar energy can survive without subsidy.”

Solar 24 works with Engensa’s proprietary 24/7 remote monitoring service that monitors both electricity produced by the solar panels and consumption of electricity in the home, Solar24 provides real-time data to help track performance and reduce consumption. Solar24 works in all homes with an immersion heater, with prices starting from £250.