The Watt Analytics System with the Watt Analytics IoT Hub is an intelligent 360° complete solution for optimizing your photovoltaic system. By proactively controlling your devices or systems, you can use more of your own electricity from your PV system.
The specialty of the technology is that you don't need several apps and interfaces, as with many conventional energy management systems. Starting with just one app, you can easily control all devices via the Watt Analytics mobile or web application.
In practice, the time when electricity is used hardly coincides with the time when solar energy is generated by your PV system. Excess, self-produced solar power is sold to the network operator at a very low price (usually between 0.1 cents and 0.3 cents per KWh), while more expensive electricity must be purchased when necessary and when the PV system is not currently running or too little solar power is generated. You buy electricity for about three times the price. So why not use more electricity when the photovoltaic system is generating electricity and save electricity at night or in bad weather?
The Watt Analytics software based on machine learning informs you when the best time is to draw your own electricity from the PV system. According to these recommendations, you can control your own consumption, reduce the consumption of expensive mains electricity and thus your electricity costs and at the same time increase your energy independence.
On average, the self-consumption share of a single-family household is between 25% and 30%. If you combine the device control with the use of PV energy storage, the self-consumption can be increased significantly, typically doubled.
This is illustrated by the application example on this graphic (Source: Fraunhofer Institut, 2020). In a single-family house with an annual electricity consumption of 4,700 kWh and an average PV power of 5 kWp, the proportion of self-consumption is on average 20% to 40%. With the use of PV storage systems, the proportion of self-consumption can be increased by 20% to 40%. In combination with the Watt Analytics device control, you can achieve a share of 50% to 70%. The Watt Analytics System accesses your consumption data and is able to give you the information about which battery capacity brings you the best return on investment (ROI).
Your devices are controlled by the Watt Analytics IoT Hub, which is connected with plugs and relays or with the integration of a smart home system, e.g. Loxone.
Fully or semi-automatically control devices for heating and cooling such as electrical heating, heat pumps or air conditioning so that these devices are activated when PV power is available.
Dishwasher, tumble dryer or washing machine can be controlled in such a way that a preprogrammed program is started when PV power is available.
Receive fully automated control commands for your hot water tank. This can e.g. be heated to 80 degrees with PV electricity, whereby the Watt Analytics System ensures that the temperature is kept at at least 60 degrees.
Let the Watt Analytics System automatically switch on your swimming pool heating or circulation pump when solar power is being produced or a minimum number of hours per day has to be achieved.
Charge your electric car with excess solar power, when the photovoltaic system is currently producing electricity.
The iWattMeter power meter, the Watt Analytics IoT Hub, analysis software as well as control relays and plugs are the components of the Watt Analytics energy management system for optimizing your photovoltaic system. The IoT hub is the control computer and generates corresponding commands for device control. With the help of the machine learning-based Watt Analytics software, the system is able to continuously learn and improve itself.
The Watt Analytics IoT Hub is the intelligent heart of PV optimization. All information from the sensors and control units comes together here. It is also connected to the mobile app and the web application and enables consumers to be controlled conveniently and reliably so that the self-consumption of PV production is optimized.
The Iono Arduino Uno or WiFi is used to control up to 6 single-phase or 2 three-phase consumers with a load of max. 16 amps per phase. It is mounted on a top-hat rail in the fuse box and therefore suitable for consumers who have a direct feed line from the fuse box.
The Iono Arduino Uno is coupled to the IoT Hub via the RS485 integration and is suitable for industrial applications with strong interference. A direct cable connection to the IoT Hub is required, which can be up to 100 meters long.
The Arduino WiFi is coupled to the IoT Hub via WiFi and is therefore suitable for those scenarios where a reliable WiFi connection is available. This can also be switched over in several phases.
Shelly Plug S is an intelligent and compact adapter and very easy to install. It can be used for consumers that are connected to a socket and switch outputs of up to 10 amps. The integration is made via WiFi.
The Shelly Plug basically has the same functions as the Shelly Plug S and differs in the switchable power. This intelligent adapter plug is used for consumers that are connected to a socket and can switch outputs of up to 16 amps.
The Shelly 1PM is used for loads up to 16 amps that are connected to a wall socket. The design is so small that the Shelly 1PM can be built into the socket. It can also be installed in the fuse box, provided that a consumer has a direct feed line from the fuse box.
The Phoenix EEM is a high-resolution watt meter for large loads. In contrast to the iWattMeter, it offers a sampling rate of 10 Hz and supports loads from 50 to 1500 amps and 690 volts. The Phoenix EEM is connected to the IoT Hub via Ethernet.