Smart home battery control for imbalance
For NextEnergy, we developed a complete software solution that intelligently controls home batteries based on grid imbalance to help reduce congestion in the energy network.
NextEnergy is a young energy supplier offering dynamic energy contracts that contribute to the energy transition. Customers pay the actual hourly energy price — fairer, more affordable, and more sustainable.
NextEnergy leverages technology to help customers relieve pressure on the energy grid. With the solution developed by Quatronic, electric vehicles automatically charge at the most cost-effective times, and home batteries automatically charge or discharge during grid imbalances. Customers receive compensation for their contribution to grid stability. The entire process runs fully automatically through a gateway between NextEnergy and the battery system.
NextEnergy
Service
Solution
Sector
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To realize the home battery proposition, several complex technical and organizational challenges had to be addressed. Quatronic took full responsibility for the technical scope, with the primary challenge being the parallel development of hardware and software in a fast, iterative process.
Hardware challenges
- Designing a solution capable of intelligently controlling and monitoring batteries, solar panels, and heat pumps.
- Selecting partners for design, certification, and production.
- Ensuring close collaboration between all parties to enable rapid learning and iteration.
Software challenges
- Setting up a scalable architecture for bulk IoT data exchange.
- Real-time monitoring and forecasting of optimal charge and discharge moments.
- Developing a user-friendly customer app providing clear insights into battery performance.
- Supporting installers with tools for installation, configuration, and status monitoring.
Gateway
Together with a hardware development company, a design was made for the gateway that enables NextEnergy to remotely control a home battery.
Smart loading algorithm
- An algorithm that determines when to (un) charge based on the imbalance and specific properties of a battery so that money can be earned by reducing grid congestion;
- Communication with the gateway to control and read batteries.
Smart loading app
An app that shows:
- what the current power consumption in a household is like (towards your car, solar panels, battery and others);
- how much has been consumed and earned per quarter.
App for installers
- An app that allows the installer to configure and validate the installation for use;
- A back end to plan and prepare installations.
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