Have a read through the following article to help understand what may best suit your needs before discussing your needs with an energy provider.
Modern Solar PV Installations include battery storage.
Maximising the Benefits of your Solar Generation.
To maximise the benefits of Solar generation, its primary function is to provide energy to be used for self-consumption, charge your battery storage, and finally export to the Grid.
Maximising the Benefits of your Battery Storage.
To maximise the full potential benefits of battery storage, we need an energy plan to provide a low-cost night-time electric rate to charge the battery storage between 2am & 6am daily. Then use this low cost energy storage the following morning during peak hours (while the sun is still rising and solar generation is still low).
*Future benefits can be gained using Dynamic tariffs.
Day/Night EV Variable Rate works well. It has a good balance for normal households that are busy throughout the day.
D/N rates can provide 30c per unit 24hrs, with a reduced 10c rate between 2am & 6am from YUNO
Urban Standing Annual Charge of €306.60
Rural standing Charge of €335.80
PSO of €38.76
This seems to be a more predictable option.
EV Charger Rate is another that provides an exceptionally low Night Rate to charge EV Cars from 2am to 6am. This can be put to good use charging Battery storage.
EV Charger rate is a 34c per unit 24hrs with a reduced 7.5c rate between 2am to 6am from ENERGIA
However, this 15% disc. rate is for the initial 12months, thereafter it reverts to a 40c/9c rate.
Standing Charge of €236.62 & PSO of €42.25
The initial good value can end up being costly.
*60KW EV Car using a 7KW AC Charger takes approx.. 7-8 hrs to charge.
Export Rates are crucial if your system has no battery storage. Solar generation is for self consumption primarily, then export. Ideal also for homes that are quiet during the day.
Export rates can be as high as 25c per unit from PINERGY
Beware of rates too good to be true, such as 32c export. These may have a catch such as a high daily rate, limited time discount, or excess levies.
Find the best balance/compromise to suit your household.
Solar PV System Export examples
1 Example
Export Rate has little return -10KW battery storage, 12 panel capacity, busy household.
Self-consumption is priority.
Excess generation will charge the batteries.
Little left to export
Battery’s charge nightly, ready for use in the morning.
*Export rate is not a high priority here. A good Day/Night Rate will work best.
2 Example
Export Rate has some importance – 10KW battery storage, 16 panels capacity, busy household.
Self-consumption is priority.
Excess generation will charge the batteries.
At stages during the day there will be excess energy exported to the grid.
Battery’s charge nightly, ready for use in the morning.
*Export rate and a good Day/Night would be a good balance.
3 Example
Export rate is very important – NO battery storage, 24 panel capacity, quiet household during day.
Self-consumption is low priority, mainly used in the mornings and evenings.
Generation is exported throughout the day.
*Export rate is the highest priority here.
4 Example
Export rates is important – 30KW Battery storage, 24 panel capacity,EV Charger, quiet household during day.
Self-consumption is low priority, mainly used in the mornings and evenings.
Generation is exported throughout the day.
Batteries are charged during the day and exported during peak hours.
Batteries should have a low SOC by end of day (15% State of Charge).
Batterys are charged during the night ready for use the next morning.
EV Car is charged during the night at low cost.
*Export rate and a good EV Night rate would be a good balance.
**Dynamic Rates could be more beneficial later – Buy at low cost/sell at high cost.
EXPORT LIMITATION
Remember, an NC6 with ESB Networks limits maximum households export to 5.5KWh.
5.0KW Sigenergy Inverter is limited to 5.5KW AC Export to the Grid.
TYPICAL EXPORT EXPECTED
A Full size system (24 panels) with a 10KW battery can export up to 45-50% to the Grid annually.
A Mid size system (16 panels) with a 10KW battery may export 15-25% Annually.
SEASONAL EXPORT DIFFERENCES
Export is much stronger during Spring/summer months with double the daylight hours at peak summer – with a stronger sun.
Export during winter will is far less.
*DYNAMIC TARRIFFS – coming soon
As of August 2025, the Dynamic tariff feature has been made available for use on Sigenergy Systems. As of yet, NO current energy supplier is currently offerIng a dynamic tariff in Ireland, however as of June 1st 2026 they are mandated to do so.
Expect the Major suppliers to provide the best options, such as: Bord Gáis Energy, Electric Ireland, Energia, SSE Airtricity, and Yuno Energy.
SIGENERGY INVERTER
Sigenergy inverters integrate dynamic tariffs using the Sigen AI in the “mySigen” App on your smartphone to analyze real-time electricity prices and customer energy usage patterns to optimize battery charging and discharging, and EV charging.
The AI buys energy when it’s cheap.
Sells it when it’s expensive.
Stores solar energy for later.
Intelligently charges EVs to maximize cost savings and energy efficiency.
**This will be a game changer when made available from energy providers..
BATTERY CHARGE LIMITATIONS
The 5.0KW Sigenergy Inverter has a 2:1 DC:AC Ratio, (10KW DC : 5KW AC)
The Battery charge rate is 50% its capacity per hr. (50% Hour 1/50% Hour 2)
AC Charging (5KW)
AC Charging of batterys from the Grid is limited to the 5.0KW AC.
So 5.0KW will charge 20KW of battery storage in 4 hours.
DC Charging (10KW)
DC Charging direct from Solar generation is limited to 10KW.
This full 10KW generation can go direct to battery storage.
So 10.0KW will charge 20KW of battery storage in 2 hours.
Makes no difference if there is a single 5KW Battery or 30KW Battery storage, both will be charged in 2 hours.
Of course there are numerous options in the app to control the charge rate/times.
