HEATING YOUR WATER WITH SOLAR PV

Many UK homeowners have Solar PV installed to benefit from greener electricity. But what if I was to tell you that you could also use your Solar PV to benefit from free hot water.

Most homeowners won’t use all of the Solar energy that their Solar PV system generates, leaving a surplus amount being exported back to the Grid. With the average import cost of electricity being 16p/kW, and the average Smart Export Guarantee payment only being 5.5p/kWh, it makes sense to want to use your own solar energy rather than exporting it back to the Grid. By Installing an Immersion Power Diverter you will be able to maximise your Solar energy usage and even benefit from free hot water.

SOLAR BATTERIES FAQs

WHAT IS AN IMMERSION DIVERTER?

Immersion diverters are known by many other names, including Solar PV Optimisers, Power Diverters, Energy Diverters and Immersion Optimisers. Essentially, it allows you to make the most out of the green energy that your Solar Panel generates. This is because, a solar power diverter, has the ability to divert your surplus energy into heating your hot water tank.

HOW DOES AN IMMERSION DIVERTER WORK?

1. Immersion diverters, work by constantly monitoring the amount of electricity your Solar PV System is generating and how much energy your home is demanding. This is monitored through a sensor, connecting between your main meter and consumer unit.
2. When your home isn’t demanding any energy, and if your solar batteries are full, you will start exporting your energy back to the National Grid. If and when the sensor detects that your Solar PV System is exporting energy to the Grid, the device diverts this flow of energy. Diverting your Solar Energy to power the immersion heater in your hot water tank instead.
3. This effectively heats your water cylinder for free, off of energy from the sun. Reducing the cost you would have otherwise had to pay for fuel to power your boiler.
4. If your home starts to demand more energy. For example, if you switch on the hoover, the immersion diverter will reduce the amount of energy it is using. This means that your Solar PV System will always prioritise your home’s electricity needs first.

THE ADVANTAGES OF HEATING YOUR WATER THROUGH SOLAR PV

EXISTING SOLAR DIVERTERS

SOLAR IBOOST

KEY FEATURES

1. Installing the Solar iBoost using a wireless connection in less than 30 minutes, eliminating the need for messy wiring. With the the optional iBoost+ Buddy and you can also remotely monitor and control the Solar iBoost+ within your home.
2. Solar iBoost+ also enables you to heat your water using full grid power. This can be achieved either by programming time functions or using the boost button.
3. The boost button switches to grid power immersion heating when hot water is needed on short notice. Giving the user greater control and flexibility. Each press of the boost button increases the time on by 15 minute increments up to 2 hours. When the immersion thermostat’s temperature is reached the Boost function stops automatically.
4. You can also set up timed functions to work alongside your current heating schedule. Which are programmable on a 5/2 day basis. The Solar iBoost also comes with interchangeable settings for winter and summer.
5. The iBoost gives you feedback in the form of readings about how much energy you have saved per various time frames in kWh (kilowatt-hours).
6. The Solar iBoost+ can heat up to 2 immersion heaters in a single hot water tank.
   Compatible with any battery storage system, the Solar iBoost is programmable to export energy to your hot water tank at a certain threshold. This threshold can be increased in 50W increments, up to 500W. By setting the threshold above that of your solar battery, your battery with be prioritised. However, if you keep it at the pre-set 100W your hot water will be heated first.
7. The eco-gauge alerts the user when energy is flowing back to the grid. That way you can decide to switch on appliances and use your energy instead of exporting it.
8. 2 years warranty.

INSTALLING A SOLAR BATTERY WITH
A SOLAR POWER DIVERTER

1. Some solar power diverters like the eddi, and iboost have the ability to be compatible with solar batteries. In this case, your Solar PV System will always prioritise charging your battery first. However, if there is any surplus energy left after charging your battery, it will then divert this energy into heating your hot water. Depending on the size of your Solar PV System and Solar Battery, having both an immersion diverter and battery installed may not be worthwhile. As your solar battery is likely to absorb your excess solar. Nonetheless, this is where a survey is important. By booking in a free solar assessment, the team here at WAGE will be able to design a custom Solar PV System that works around your energy usage. A system that will maximise your energy savings. These assessments are completely free, and come with a free design and remote survey.

MYENERGI EDDI

KEY FEATURES

1. The Eddi by myenergi is an industry leading immersion diverter, that can be installed wirelessly through the use of myenergi’s harvi.
2. Works with existing immersion elements, so there is no need to pay for replacements.
   The ability to divert solar into hot water immersion or other types of heating such as underfloor heating or the heating of a pool, towel rail or heat pump.
3. The Eddi can divert solar power to two heaters in different destinations, sequentially.
   The LCD screen allows you to monitor your power diversion.
4. The Eddi includes several safety features including: Fanless cooling, as well as overload and short-circuit protection.
5. Automatic Daylight Saving Time adjustment.
6. Like the Solar iBoost, the Eddi also has built-in programmable boost timers.
7. Paired with the myenergi app, you can set timers to utilise economy tariffs, use the boost function, monitor your savings as well as other connected devices. Essentially giving you remote access to monitor your data all in one place.
8. Of course, the Eddi integrates well with other myenergi products such as the Zappi EV Charger. Through the myenergi app you can monitor and manage your ecosystem, and set a priority on your devices.
9. The Eddi solar diverter is also compatible with solar batteries such as the Tesla Powerwall. Meaning you can install it so that the battery storage is prioritised followed by your hot water.
10. 3 years warranty.

IS YOUR HOME SUITABLE FOR
A SOLAR POWER DIVERTER?

In order to install an immersion diverter in your home, you must meet the following criteria:

Here at WAGE we are able to provide a remote assessment, to calculate just how much you could save from installing an immersion diverter alongside a Solar PV system. Call us on 0203 988 8450 or simply click enquire now to fill out our short form, to get connected to a Solar Energy expert.

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