Lots of installers wanting to enter the sector often ask me what the challenges are likely to be. This is multifaceted – with angles around installation but also integration and what consumers actually want.
A big one at the moment is EV chargers and PV/battery systems from different ecosystems and brands. Unfortunately, these often will not talk to each other in delivering the best outcome for consumers and present challenges for installers.
The usual installer approach is to blind the battery storage system from the EVs existence. This prevents the household battery from discharging into the electric vehicle. It is usually achieved by placing the EV charge point into a consumer unit pre the battery storage system and outside of any gateways.
However, as we see ever lower export limits agreed by DNOs this can lead to another issue some installers are missing. That is around clipping, and EV charge points not having opportunity to see and use all solar export. While the battery storage system is blinded from the EV’s demand and thus not serving it. The EV can see solar export, great right! Well sort of, if the DNO has specified say a 5kW export limit but the customer is producing 8kW with full batteries and a 1kW house load demand satisfied (remember it cannot see the EV demand). 2kW would be clipped away before the EV had chance to use it. With such varied tariffs this can become an issue as consumers seek the very best ROI across all seasons.
Read more: Installer Online