This guide is specific to Flow Power. Please refere to the Amber Electric & LocalVolts guide for principles specific to the wholesale market, or the Globird for principles specific to Globird.
Globird have fixed pricing for both buying and selling, depending on the time of day. Energy Manager supports the ZeroHero plan and will automatically import during the free periods, assuming you have enabled the function.
The following are usually the periods and pricing for purchasing electricity from Globird (note, this may change without warning, so always reference the Golbird website for confirmation):
Energy Manager can be configured to purchase during the free and other periods automatically, but will not import during the peak period. Both the free and other buy period imports can be toggled on or off. Normally you would not want to import during the other period, but if can be configured to import if you won't be able to fully charge your battery during the free period only, and you want a full battery.
The following are usually the periods and pricing for selling electricity from Globird (note, this may change without warning, so always reference the Golbird website for confirmation):
Energy Manager can be configured to export or not export during these periods automatically. It also allows you to set a battery reserve for the Super and Standard export periods, so you can control how much energy you export.
There are two methods to charge your battery:
a. From the electricity generated from your solar array
b. From importing from the grid
Energy Manager aims to work out what the best method is for you. If your system is capable of generating and storing enough electricity to charge your battery without help, it will not take from the grid. When it does have to take from the grid, it ensures that it is taken during the free period (and other period if there still isn't enough from the free period, but only if other period import is enabled).
Ideally you should only discharge your battery under two circumstances:
a. During the Happy Hour (or peak period) - it is better to get paid either 35 or 45c/kWh (location dependent) for two hours and import from the grid during a cheap time, than to use your power yourself.
b. After the sun has gone down (or you're generating less than you are using, and it is cheaper to use your stored power than take from the grid).
If the sell/export/fit price is negative, then you may be penalised to export excess solar energy. Energy Manager monitors the wholesale rates and will send a configuration command to your inverter to stop your exports.
Energy Manager will import power from the grid under the following circumstances:
a. You have no power left in your battery (or the reserve has been met)
b. It is advantageous to purchase from the grid during cheap periods than use the power stored in your battery. The stored energy should be kept for later when you might be penalised for importing during a high demand period.
Exports are limited to the following situations:
a. It is currently peak period/happy hour and you will get a good sell price for your exported power. This is generally a forced export.
b. The wholesale sell price is positive AND your battery is full. A forced export will not happen, but Energy Manager may allow your excess to be exported (but not if the wholesale price is negative).