Manage your consumption with a Home Energy Management System (HEMS)
By combining a photovoltaic system with a home battery and other energy devices such as an electric vehicle charging station and/or a heat pump, you can monitor and control all these components by optimising energy flows with a HEMS (Home Energy Management System). In short, it's a system that monitors, controls, and optimises electricity flows within your home.
View the accessible version of the illustration - Diagram of a HEMS
Applications of a Home Energy Management System
An energy management system is a key tool for taking advantage of dynamic electricity tariffs, especially if you have a battery. It enables optimal battery usage, provided the inverter and battery are controllable and compatible with the HEMS, along with other energy devices.
Some of the possible applications include:
- Smart charging of an electric vehicle charging station, allowing coordinated use of the battery and charger with stored electricity
- Delayed operation of high-consumption appliances (heat pump, dishwasher, washing machine, etc.)
- Reducing evening consumption peaks by using energy stored in the battery during the day — especially relevant with the introduction of increased network charges
- Dynamic tariffs that allow you to consume or inject electricity when prices on the wholesale market are most favourable for the user.
In general, HEMS providers offer a management service that helps configure and operate the system according to your needs.
Check equipment compatibility before installing a management system
To integrate as many energy-consuming devices as possible, particularly high-consumption ones, into a HEMS and optimise your energy flows, make sure your devices are compatible with each other.
It's also important to note that installing an energy management system is only worthwhile if you integrate and control at least two major energy devices within your system.