Installing solar panels is becoming an increasingly popular choice for Australian homeowners looking to take control of their energy use and costs. With solar and battery prices having fallen dramatically in the last decade, payback periods are shorter than ever.
Transitioning from a traditional solar system to an automated, smart solar solution allows you to maximize the benefits of solar power generation. Smart solar systems enable real-time monitoring, optimization, and integration with other smart devices in your home.
This article explains the key components and strategies to upgrade to a smarter, more automated solar energy system.
What is a Smart Solar Energy System?
A smart solar energy system has capabilities for:
- Monitoring system performance in real-time
- Automating functions for optimization
- Integrating with smart home appliances and networks
These capabilities are enabled by technologies like:
- Advanced solar inverters with energy management functions
- Panel-level monitoring
- Smart meters and energy management platforms
- Battery storage and solar optimization algorithms
Together, these innovations allow you to track solar energy generation, manage consumption efficiently, and automate functions to maximize self-sufficiency.
Benefits of Automating Your Solar System
Upgrading your solar system with smart capabilities provides many benefits:
- Increased self-consumption of solar power – By linking appliances and usage patterns to solar generation data, a smart system can time usage to align with solar energy production and minimize exports to the grid.
- Optimized system performance – Monitoring at the panel level can identify any faults or underperforming panels. Smart inverters adjust to mitigate the impacts of shade, weather events or grid fluctuations.
- Simplified energy management – Easy to use dashboards and smartphone apps enable real-time monitoring, automation adjustments and alerts from anywhere.
- Battery integration – Smart software balances energy storage in batteries and coordinates charging at optimal times from solar or the grid when electricity prices are low.
- Enables smart home integration – Smart solar paves the way for linking your system with smart thermostats, appliances, electric vehicle chargers and more.
- Future-proofing – Smart solar systems can integrate with emerging technologies like home energy management systems, virtual power plants and peer-to-peer energy trading platforms.
Key Components of a Smart Solar Energy System
While solar panels and inverters are core components, smart solar relies on these additional technologies:
Solar Inverters with Energy Management
Advanced inverters like the SolarEdge power optimiser system offer panel-level monitoring and automatic adjustments to maximise efficiency in response to faults or weather events.
SolarEdge inverters can also integrate with smart home platforms and have smart grid capabilities.
Energy Storage
Adding a lithium battery like the LG Chem RESU integrates storage with your solar system. Smart software automatically coordinates solar charging and discharging to maximise consumption of the solar energy produced.
Batteries provide energy security in grid outages and allow for going completely off-grid.
Smart Energy Meters
Smart meters like the Wattwatchers Auditor connect bidirectionally with solar and track real-time appliance-level consumption. This provides data to shift usage to match solar generation times.
Solar Monitoring Platforms
Platforms like Solar Analytics or SolarEdge monitoring provide live solar performance data, custom reports and alerts. Some integrate with smart devices to automate energy usage optimization.
Smart Devices Integration
Linking smart solar with smart thermostats, EV chargers and appliances allows control based on generation data to maximize self-consumption. Open standards like Modbus enable cross-brand integration.
Key Strategies for Solar Automation
Here are some key strategies and technologies for increasing intelligence and automation in your home solar system:
Solar Trackers
Dual-axis solar trackers automatically tilt and rotate panels to follow the sun’s path throughout the day. This can increase energy generation by 25-40%. Suitable for large systems, they can integrate with monitoring systems.
Demand Response Integration
Connecting your solar and battery storage to utility demand response platforms allows you to trade excess solar energy to the grid when needed. This is managed automatically via virtual power plant networks.
Load Shifting
Higher energy appliances like pool pumps, EV chargers or air conditioners can be automated using smart switches to only run when sufficient solar and/or stored battery energy is available.
Time-Based Control
Using timers and scheduling functions allows set-and-forget automation of solar charging and discharging cycles. Appliances can also be programmed to run during peak solar generation hours.
Smart Forecasting
Advanced forecasting algorithms predict weather, energy prices and solar generation to optimally schedule your appliances and battery usage. Accuracy improves over time via machine learning.
Remote Monitoring & Control
Monitoring platforms provide access to system performance data and often allow adjustments to settings or billing remotely via web or mobile apps. Enables quick response to faults.
Leading Smart Solar Brands
Here are some of the most popular smart solar and energy automation brands:
- SolarEdge – Monitoring, optimisation and smart solar integration.
- Fronius – Advanced inverters with energy management and automation capabilities.
- Tesla – Sleek Powerwall system controlled via app. Integrates solar charging.
- Sonnen – Eco compact batteries with automation and virtual power plant compatibility.
- LG Chem – Reliable lithium batteries integrate with solar systems.
- Wattwatchers – Energy monitoring provides appliance-level consumption insights.
- Solar Analytics – Solar monitoring, automation and optimization platform.
- Greensync – Leading energy automation and grid integration platform.
- Schneider Electric – Broad smart home and building automation offerings.
- Enginer – AI-powered home solar management, monitoring and automation.
Bringing it All Together
While solar panel technology is maturing, it’s the monitoring, software and integration innovations that will unlock the next level of benefits from your system.
With energy costs rising, automation and linking solar generation with smart devices is key to maximising self-consumption from your panels.
Choosing products with open standards and smart home integration capabilities will provide more options now and in the future. Leading brands offer complete smart solar solutions.
Expert solar installers can advise on options to suit your needs and budget. They can also assist with integrating your system with smart home platforms and appliances.
Installing solar panels is just the start. Embracing smart solar and home energy automation will optimise your investment’s returns and keep your home in sync with the future of renewable energy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an autonomous solar system?
An autonomous solar system is designed to operate independently, without connection to the electricity grid. It combines solar panels, batteries, and smart energy management technology to maintain seamless off-grid power 24/7.
Is there an app to monitor my solar panels?
Yes, most solar brands offer a monitoring app that connects to your system via WiFi or the internet to provide real-time performance data, alerts and remote access to manage settings. Leading options include SolarEdge, Fronius Solar.web and Solar Analytics.
How much does the solar monitoring app cost?
Most solar brands include the monitor app and access to real-time system data free with the product. Third party monitoring platforms like Solar Analytics require an annual subscription starting from around $129 per year for basic insights.
Will a solar system pay for itself?
Yes, with electricity prices continuing to rise, a properly sized solar system will repay its cost over time through energy savings. Payback periods vary based on system size, but quality solar generally pays for itself within 4-7 years.
Can I have a stand alone solar system completely off-grid?
Yes, it’s possible to leave the grid by combining solar panels with batteries and smart energy management tech for 100% solar self-sufficiency. Expert advice is recommended to ensure proper sizing, setup and integration.
Is SolarEdge power optimisation worth it?
SolarEdge optimisation boosts energy output from solar panels by 10-25% and enables panel-level monitoring. For large or complex systems, the long-term performance increase and insights generally make the extra upfront cost worthwhile.
How do you monitor individual solar panels?
Microinverters or DC optimisers connected to each panel enable individual monitoring. SolarEdge is a leading DC optimiser brand that monitors and can shut down faulty or under-performing panels remotely. AC microinverters also offer panel-level data.
What is a smart solar tracker?
A smart solar tracker automatically tilts and rotates solar arrays to directly face the sun throughout the day. Smart trackers integrate with monitoring systems and use GPS and algorithms to optimise positioning. They can increase generation by 25-40%.
Do solar panels work on cloudy days?
Yes, solar panels can still generate 10-25% of their rated capacity even on cloudy days. Advanced solar inverters will adjust to make the most of variable weather conditions. Solar also works year-round, not just sunny days.
Is solar tracking worth it?
For large-scale ground mount systems, smart solar trackers can boost generation by 25-40%, providing a good return on investment. For smaller residential systems their cost is harder to justify, but performance gains can still be significant.
Smart Solar – Your Next Step
Interested in upgrading your solar system with smart capabilities and automation? Get a quote and find an expert who can guide you through the options and top products to deliver these benefits.
