After the French government announced a significant reduction in the household photovoltaic grid-connected electricity price (according to the S21 decree, the photovoltaic grid-connected electricity price for newly built photovoltaic power stations below 9kW is reduced from 12.7 euro cents/kWh to 4 euro cents/kWh, a decrease of 66%), Octopus Energy launched its innovative household photovoltaic and energy storage integrated solution SolarPlus and entered the French market.
This is a home energy system that integrates photovoltaic panels, energy storage batteries, and an intelligent energy management system. It aims to help users maximize the self-generation and self-use rate of photovoltaic power generation and reduce electricity costs.
SolarPlus integrates photovoltaic power generation, energy storage batteries and power consumption equipment to achieve the trinity of "self-generation and self-use + electricity price optimization + grid interaction" energy management. Octopus Energy calculated a typical household (annual power consumption 6MWh + 6kW photovoltaic + 6.9kWh energy storage battery):
Households that newly install photovoltaic panels and energy storage batteries will be able to save up to 90% of electricity bills in the first year, or up to 1,900 euros.
For users who already have a photovoltaic system, switching to SolarPlus can save an average of 49% of electricity bills by adding energy storage batteries and optimizing energy use, or up to 480 euros per year.
SolarPlus advantages:
1. Exclusive electricity price discount
Users enjoy a guaranteed electricity price that is 3% lower than the French standard regulated electricity price.
Get an additional 428 hours of off-peak electricity hours each year (April-October, 14:00-16:00 every day), with an estimated annual savings of 15 euros.
2. Smart battery management
Octopus Energy uses algorithm optimization to charge batteries when there is sufficient sunlight and during the low electricity price period in winter, optimizing electricity costs and saving 51 euros per year.
3. Repurchase of surplus electricity at a high price
Repurchase of users' excess photovoltaic power generation at a price of 0.13 euros/kWh (three times the current national repurchase price), with an estimated annual income of 234 euros.
4. Intelligent regulation of water heaters
During the peak of photovoltaic power generation in summer, the excess photovoltaic power generation is used to power water heaters to make hot water, saving 117 euros per year. Guillaume Bodson, deputy CEO of Octopus Energy, pointed out in an interview: "We are confident in this new and controllable solar energy solution. If used properly, the home energy storage system will play a buffering role during the peak load period of the power grid. If 600,000 households deploy the SolarPlus system, the power regulation capacity released will be equivalent to six nuclear power plants, which will effectively enhance the flexibility and autonomy of the French power grid, and will also substantially reduce the energy expenditure burden of the people." Under the dual challenges of energy transformation and electricity price fluctuations, Octopus Energy's SolarPlus not only provides French families with a win-win choice of "saving electricity + making money + contributing to the power grid", but also creates a new paradigm for distributed energy to participate in the balance of the power system.