Solarcoop is offering solar router that reinjects excess photovoltaic energy from a self-consumption installation into an electric water heater or any other electrical device with a resistor. It also allows other devices such as heat pumps to be controlled.
From pv magazine France
French community solar specialist Solarcoop has developed a tool to optimize residential self-consumption, particularly to limit the purchase of grid electricity.
Named SolarOOteur, the electronic device automatically redirects excess energy produced by photovoltaic panels to specific devices in the home. The current version is optimized for hot water tanks with several advanced features.
Specifically, the router measures the electrical power flowing between the main electrical panel and the meter. If it detects excess power, it injects it into the hot water tank’s resistance, modulating the voltage so as not to draw electricity from the grid.
“Two additional measurements complete the monitoring by integrating the energy produced by the photovoltaic installation and the energy routed to the tank,” explains Solarcoop. “A temperature sensor optimizes the nighttime heating supplement.” In addition, a night function sends additional grid electricity to the hot water tank, depending on the desired temperature.
Depending on the installation and needs, the surplus electricity can be sent to any device with a resistor, as well as to a heat pump, air conditioner, or motor via a 0-10 V output. A “load shedding” function allows a device to be disconnected if consumption exceeds a set threshold.
The router can also serve as an energy manager, as it is capable of measuring grid consumption, photovoltaic production, and excess energy directed to household appliances. “Thanks to its two outputs and simple software updates, the Solarouteur will be equipped with new features over time, such as controlling heat pumps, air conditioners, or electric car charging stations,” the cooperative stated.
The solar router can be installed without any work, next to the electrical panel or hot water tank. It is equipped with a screen and a Wi-Fi connection to allow the user to access real-time information, either directly on the router or on their phone or computer: power, temperature, and operating mode.
The device is manufactured in France and sells for €420 including VAT for the current model, which can power an electric water heater with a maximum output of 3,600 W.
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