Smart automations in photovoltaic systems help you maximize the benefits of solar energy by controlling devices based on solar production. Understanding the difference between "Grid Injection" and "Total Production" is crucial for setting up effective automations. This article clarifies these concepts and their impact on your automation behavior.
What is "Total production"?
"Total Production" refers to the total amount of power generated by your solar panels at any given time. This is measured directly from the output of your panels before any energy is consumed by your home or fed into the grid.
What is "Grid injection"?
"Grid Injection" is the surplus power produced by your solar panels that is not consumed by your home and is therefore fed into the grid. It represents the excess solar energy available after meeting your home’s power needs. On the graph, the grid injection represents only the part above the home consumption.
Where to find this information
You can view your total production, grid-related information, and your total consumption from the Home + Control app dashboard. Simply click the pill at the top left of the screen to access these details. You will see your home consumption, your total production and know if you are consuming from the network or injecting into it.
How do these measures affect your automations?
1. Using total production as a trigger
When you use "Total Production" as a trigger for your automations, the actions are based solely on the amount of power produced by your panels. This means devices will activate as soon as the total production reaches the set threshold, regardless of your home’s consumption.
2. Using grid injection as a trigger
When using "Grid Injection" as a trigger, automations are based on the excess power available after your home’s consumption. This ensures that devices only use surplus energy, optimizing self-consumption
Which option is best for your needs?
Choosing between total production and grid injection depends on your energy goals:
- Total production: Ideal if you want devices to activate as soon as your panels produce enough power, regardless of your home’s consumption.
- Grid injection: Best for maximizing self-consumption and minimizing grid energy usage, as devices activate only when surplus power is available. This option is ideal for maximising the benefits of your solar installation, as it prioritises the use of available solar energy for your appliances.
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