Self-Consumption
The more solar energy you use yourself, the more you can save on your electricity bill.
Saved per unit self-used
Earned per unit exported
Typical without battery
A typical solar PV system generates most of its electricity during daylight hours, with output often strongest around 10am–2pm on a south-facing roof. Set your washing machine, dishwasher and tumble dryer to run during periods when your solar panels are generating electricity. For many households, shifting existing electricity use into these hours is one of the simplest ways to increase solar self-consumption without buying additional equipment.
A solar diverter automatically sends surplus solar electricity to your hot water immersion heater instead of exporting it to the grid. Devices such as the myenergi eddi can increase the amount of solar energy you use at home and reduce the electricity needed to heat your hot water. Installation costs vary by property and system, so compare the expected savings with the purchase and installation price before investing. A solar diverter is particularly useful during brighter months when your panels regularly produce more electricity than the household is using.
If you have an electric car and home EV charger, schedule charging for periods when your solar panels are producing the most electricity. Charging during the day can allow you to use surplus solar power directly rather than buying electricity from the grid. Smart charging controls can automatically adjust charging times around your solar generation, electricity tariff and driving needs.
Check your solar inverter monitoring app regularly to see when your panels generate the most electricity. On sunny days, you can plan higher-energy activities such as using the oven, washing machine, dishwasher or tumble dryer around peak solar generation. On cloudier days, consider saving flexible electricity use for periods when your energy tariff is cheapest. Matching household electricity demand to solar generation is one of the easiest ways to improve solar self-consumption.
Check your SEG statements or solar monitoring app to see how much electricity your system exports to the grid each year. If you regularly export a large amount of surplus solar electricity, particularly during daylight hours, it may be worth modelling whether a solar battery could improve your savings by storing electricity for use later in the day. The financial case depends on your annual generation, household electricity use, export tariff, battery cost, expected lifespan and charging strategy, so calculate the numbers before buying. Our Solar Self-Consumption Calculator can help you estimate the potential impact.