EcoFlex: How do I take control of my battery?
SmartShift automation needs to remain enabled in the EcoFlex app, even when you want to manually control your battery. Turning it off means your battery will run as a standard battery and won’t benefit from EcoFlex smart features.
EcoFlex manages your battery using SmartShift technology to give you the best value in charging from and exporting to the grid.
However, there may be times when you want to manage your battery manually. You can do this using the EcoFlex app, with full control over how long your manual settings apply.
There are four manual modes: Dispatch, Charge, Preserve and Consume.
When you choose one of these modes, you’ll see a forecast of the impact it’s likely to have in terms of cost or earnings.
When you switch back to SmartShift, whether that’s after a minute or several hours, you’ll get a summary of the actual impact. SmartShift will also adjust its plan to account for your battery’s new state, to help find the best way to minimise your energy costs for the rest of the day.
Beta version note: Switching between modes takes around five minutes to allow for the battery plan to be updated. Coming soon, this will happen immediately.
Dispatch Battery
Choose Dispatch Battery to export energy to the grid. Energy from your battery will first be used by appliances in your home, with the remainder exported to the grid. Energy exported to the grid will be sold at the current market price.
Example: You’ve spotted a price spike in the app and want to sell your energy to make more money.
Charge Battery
Select Charge Battery to top up your battery’s reserve levels from the grid at times when you need some extra power.
Example: You’re having some friends over for Sunday lunch in winter. You want them to feel warm and cosy, so you can use Charge Battery to store some extra power in your battery while energy is cheap, keeping the electric heater going when they arrive.
Preserve Battery
Choose Preserve Battery to ensure your battery’s stored energy doesn’t dip below the current level for as long as you choose.
In effect, Preserve Battery isolates your battery from both your home and your generation system; all excess generation is exported to the grid and grid energy is used for any home energy usage.
Example: If you have an electric vehicle, you can use Preserve Battery to stop your home battery being drained during EV charging. By doing this, you can charge your EV from the grid when energy is green and cheap.
Consume Battery
Select Consume Battery to put your battery into its standard operating mode, with no charging from or export to the grid.
If your household energy consumption is greater than your generation, you’ll use energy from the battery. If your generation is more than your energy consumption, the excess energy will be stored in your battery.
Example: Use Consume Battery during periods of high grid prices, especially when poor weather means your solar panels aren’t producing enough energy.
