In an era of rising costs, the path to energy independence lies in combining smart technology with clean energy. Imagine a home where your biggest energy expenses—electricity, hot water, and transport—are powered by the sun. This dream is achievable by integrating a home solar system, a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), and a modern electric heat pump hot water system.
The financial impact of this clean energy trio is significant. For instance, one customer’s recent electricity statement shows the benefit of this approach, with a Total Due of only $44.76. This low bill, achieved despite a significant energy usage, highlights a key strategy: using your own solar power to run your home’s biggest energy drains.
A home solar system is the foundation for low-cost living. It generates electricity for your household, and any surplus is sent back to the grid for a credit, known as a Solar Feed-in Tariff (FIT).
The bill shows the impressive export capability of the solar system: Grid Export: The system generated a Solar FIT credit by exporting 646.51 kWh of electricity. Home Usage: Despite an average daily usage of 12.80 kWh—which the retailer compares to a four-person household—the customer’s Total Bill was kept low by the FIT credit and a government relief payment. The challenge is that the rate for this exported energy is typically very low (e.g., the customer’s rate was $-0.0150 per kWh). The real saving comes from self-consumption: using your solar power directly instead of buying expensive electricity from the grid
Hot water is one of the largest energy consumers in the average home. This is where an electric heat pump hot water system is a game-changer, especially when paired with solar.
A heat pump operates by moving heat from the air into the water, rather than generating heat directly with an electric element. This process makes it incredibly efficient, using up to 75% less energy than a traditional electric storage tank.
By scheduling your heat pump to run only during the day, you ensure it is powered by your “free” solar electricity, not the more expensive grid electricity. This strategy converts low-value exported power into high-value hot water, directly reducing the Anytime Usage portion of your bill.3. The PHEV: Turning Excess Power into “Free” Driving
Once the heat pump is running, your Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) steps in to use any remaining excess solar. A PHEV, which has both a battery and a petrol engine, can be thought of as a “battery on wheels.”
Instead of allowing your excess solar power to be exported to the grid for a minimal credit, you divert it into your PHEV’s battery. This effectively swaps the cost of expensive petrol for electricity you generated for free. This is the ultimate form of self-consumption, maximizing the financial return on your solar investment by: Minimizing Fuel Costs: Using the electric range for daily commutes and errands. Valuing Your Power: Converting the lowest-value exported power into the highest-value commodity: driving range. The combination of solar, a heat pump, and a PHEV allows you to address the three main household energy demands—general electricity, hot water, and transport—with a single, sustainable, and highly effective clean energy plan. By generating your own power and strategically using it for the most energy-hungry applications, you take a major step toward a bill that is consistently low.
Whilst the population can see the inherent benefits, it brings into question the Liberal Party of Australia’s jaw-boning on this issue.