Charging EVs at Home Using Solar Power Is Becoming Increasingly Common

More and more households are combining solar panels with a home charging station for their electric vehicle. By using smart charging technology, surplus solar energy can be used immediately to charge an EV, reducing the amount of electricity fed back into the grid while increasing the direct use of self-generated renewable energy.

According to BlueBird Power, interest in so-called solar charging continues to grow. With the gradual phase-out of the Dutch net metering scheme, lower feed-in tariffs and even feed-in charges from some energy suppliers, homeowners are increasingly looking for ways to make better use of the electricity generated by their own solar panels.

Higher Returns from Solar Panels

With solar charging, an electric vehicle is charged whenever the solar panels are producing electricity. Smart charging stations automatically adjust the charging capacity based on the available solar energy.

"Charging stations and electric vehicles normally require a minimum charging current, making it not always easy to charge directly using solar power," says Bart Holthuizen, Director & Head of Product at BlueBird Power. "With smart software and dynamic switching between one and three phases, the charging capacity automatically adjusts to the amount of solar energy available at that moment. Unlike many other providers, this optimisation happens in real time."

By continuously adjusting the charging capacity, the charging station follows fluctuations in solar generation throughout the day, allowing homeowners to make better use of their own renewable energy.

Less Dependent on the Electricity Grid

According to BlueBird Power, directly using self-generated solar energy also helps reduce pressure on the electricity grid. When households charge their vehicles with locally generated electricity, less power needs to be drawn from—or fed back into—the grid. This also lowers charging costs, as a greater proportion of the electricity comes directly from the home's solar panels.

"Many households have surplus solar energy during the day," says Holthuizen. "By using that electricity to charge an electric vehicle immediately, you increase self-consumption and improve the return on your solar investment."

The Electric Vehicle as Energy Storage

An electric vehicle can also serve as temporary storage for solar energy. Modern EV batteries can store tens of kilowatt-hours of electricity, allowing surplus solar power to be stored for later use instead of immediately being exported to the grid.

According to BlueBird Power, interest in intelligent charging solutions that combine solar energy, dynamic electricity tariffs and smart home energy management continues to increase as households look for more sustainable and cost-effective ways to manage their energy.

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You can read the full article published by Arie Blokland here:

https://www.arieblokland.nl/auto/371-ev-thuis-laden-op-zonnestroom-steeds-gebruikelijker