Table of Contents
Plan energy optimization and storage
This article describes the installation planning. For on-site implementation and equipment configuration on the Climkit platform, refer to the links at the end of the article.
The Climkit Energy Management System (EMS) controls certain devices based on solar production and manages a storage battery to make the most of surplus energy, for example at night.
Locally produced solar electricity is better utilized: the self-consumption rate increases, electricity purchases from the grid decrease, and the building gains autonomy. It is also possible to program timers to systematically switch on certain appliances at different times of the day.
This article is divided into two parts: device control and the storage battery.
1. Device control
The Climkit EMS controls devices via a relay or a communication protocol based on surplus solar production (fed back to the grid) or scheduled timers. The main use cases are hot water production, heat pumps, and electric vehicle charging.
Hot water production
The EMS controls an immersion heater (heating element) installed in the hot water tank, strictly based on surplus solar production. The power rating of the heating element is configured in the Climkit EMS; when an equivalent or greater solar power is fed back to the grid, the relay activates the heating element, which produces hot water for space heating or domestic hot water.
The immersion heater is inexpensive to purchase and highly responsive. It is often already present in the tank, as the primary water heater or as backup for a heat pump. It is a good way to store solar energy as hot water.
Heat pump
A heat pump can also be controlled based on solar production. Some heat pumps have an SG-Ready potential-free contact, which the Climkit Gateway controls following the same principle as the immersion heater, for example by raising the heating setpoint when solar electricity is available.
To maximize self-consumption, it is recommended to program the heat pump to operate between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, at least from March to October, and in winter when the stored buffer covers the night. The impact of peak/off-peak hours is also becoming less decisive, as distribution system operators (DSOs) now often apply high tariffs in the evening.
Charging station control
Charging stations can be configured to charge connected vehicles using solar energy only. This feature requires no additional equipment beyond the infrastructure planned for the charging stations (see Plan electric vehicle charging station management).
Users wishing to charge their vehicle regardless of this mode can activate the corresponding charging mode via the Climkit mobile app.
Climkit offering
Here are the additional products enabling device control:
- Equipment:
- I/O Relay Module
- Software features:
- Self-consumption optimization
- Commissioning service:
- Technical coordination and configuration
All these products are ordered directly from Climkit. As a general rule, an on-site visit by a Climkit technician is not required for commissioning. Components are delivered pre-configured, allowing the installer to easily perform commissioning, with phone support from Climkit technical support if needed.
Details of equipment used
I/O Relay Module
The WP8024 I/O Module provided by Climkit has 4 relays.
It comes with a 24V DC DIN rail power supply and connects to the Climkit Gateway via RS485-Modbus (like electricity meters).
2. Storage battery
A battery allows surplus photovoltaic electricity generated on a site to be stored and used when production falls below consumption.
The Climkit Gateway can connect to the battery to:
- read battery data only: charged and discharged energy volumes, as well as the charge level (state of charge)
- directly control charging and discharging based on surplus production
Communication between the battery and the Gateway takes place via Modbus TCP.
A battery can be connected in two ways:
- AC coupling: the battery is connected to the electrical panel via its own inverter, independently of the photovoltaic inverter.
- DC coupling: the battery is connected directly to the photovoltaic inverter, known as a hybrid inverter.
AC coupling
AC coupling is recommended for medium and large installations, or when a standard photovoltaic inverter is already installed.
The battery, equipped with its own inverter, is connected to the electrical panel as an independent feeder. A dedicated Climkit private meter is installed on this connection and configured in "Battery" mode on the platform to measure charged and discharged volumes and correctly integrate them into the site metering.
DC coupling
In DC coupling, the battery is connected on the direct current side directly to the hybrid photovoltaic inverter. This configuration is suitable for installations equipped with a hybrid inverter, typically small to medium-sized. Since the battery is located behind the photovoltaic production meter, no dedicated battery meter is installed. If the Climkit Gateway can read the hybrid inverter via Modbus TCP, the platform distinguishes solar production from battery flows.
Climkit offering
Here are the additional products enabling battery management:
- Equipment:
- Ethernet switch, if needed to connect the battery
- Software features:
- Battery management
- Commissioning service:
- Technical coordination and configuration
All these products are ordered directly from Climkit. As a general rule, an on-site visit by a Climkit technician is not required for commissioning. Components are delivered pre-configured, allowing the installer to easily perform commissioning, with phone support from Climkit technical support if needed.
3. Next steps
Device control:
Storage battery:
