- E.ON Next’s Next Solar Max is the first of its kind and uses AI
- The energy provider has invited up to 1,000 UK households with solar panels and battery systems to participate
- Customers will be able to monitor and manage their energy plans through E.ON Next’ app
E.ON Next has invited 1,000 households with solar panels and batteries to take part in a pilot that it says will help homeowners manage their energy usage.
Unveiled as a ‘first of its kind’ project, Next Solar Max combines smart automation with real-time pricing to help solar households manage and store their energy more efficiently, according to the energy provider.
Chris Norbury, CEO, E.ON UK said Next Solar Max would help households “take control of their energy use and unlock new earning potential”.
Next Solar Max will last one year and is the UK’s first combined dynamic electricity tariff and intelligent home energy management service, Norbury said, and has been specifically designed for homeowners with existing systems.
Norbury also said that by combining smart automation with real-time electricity pricing, Next Solar Max will “empower” households to make the most of their solar and battery systems.
He added that customers will benefit from half-hourly wholesale electricity prices, which will allow participants to charge their batteries from the grid when prices are low and sell stored energy back to the grid when prices are high, and are all managed automatically back to the system.
Next Solar Max is powered by artificial intelligence (AI) from E.ON Next’s partners at Australian energy platform Amber. The system will learn from each household’s energy habits, forecast solar generation and track real-time energy prices. It then creates personalised energy plans to optimise customers’ energy use tailored to each household’s lifestyle and energy patterns.
Customers will be able to monitor and manage their energy plans through E.ON Next’ app and will be able to view their live prices, as well as track how their battery and solar system is being managed. Users can also override automated settings at any time to suit their needs.
“To build a sustainable energy future, flexibility must be at the heart of how we generate, manage and use power,” Norbury explained.
“In partnership with Amber, we’re giving customers intelligent tools that respond to their energy needs in real time, making it easier than ever to get the most from their solar and battery systems.
“This pilot is a powerful step towards a smarter, more responsive energy system that works for everyone.”
E.ON Next has begun emailing eligible customers for the first phase of the pilot. To be eligible, households must already own and operate both solar panels and a battery storage system.
To join the waitlist for the next pilot, interested households can do so here.
