Switching Off Solar Panels at Negative Prices

Do you have a dynamic energy contract? Then electricity prices can sometimes become negative. In those moments, it is often more economical not to feed electricity back into the grid. By automatically switching off your solar panels or using the electricity you generate smartly within your home, you can avoid unnecessary costs and make the most of your self-generated solar power. In this article, you will discover the smart solutions available for each brand to switch off your solar panels when electricity prices turn negative.

The national grid operator TenneT monitors the balance between electricity supply and demand. When there is high solar energy production and low demand, electricity prices can drop below zero. Feeding solar energy back into the grid during such periods can even lead to extra costs. Temporarily switching off your solar panels or using the energy locally is then the most cost-effective solution.

Switching off solar panels: Solis inverters

Solis inverters do not currently offer a built-in feature to automatically switch off solar panels when electricity prices are negative. However, you can set the export to zero using a meter, CT clamps, or external equipment such as the Export Power Manager.

OptimaSolar will soon introduce the Currentt Navigator: an advanced energy management system for the home. This system makes it possible to automatically switch off your solar panels or to activate appliances that require power at the right time. This way, you maximize the use of your self-generated solar energy and avoid feed-in costs when electricity prices are negative.

SolarEdge central inverters

With SolarEdge inverters, you can automatically switch off your solar panels when electricity prices are negative. You can easily set dynamic energy rates using the mySolarEdge app. The system will then automatically respond when the electricity price falls below a certain threshold. This ensures smart and sustainable energy generation with maximum financial benefit.

How to set it up in the mySolarEdge app:
Open the app, go to Settings, choose Electricity Rate, and select Dynamic as your energy supplier. This enables your system to automatically respond to price drops. A step-by-step video is also available for guidance.

Enphase microinverters

Enphase microinverters also offer the option to automatically shut down your system when electricity prices are negative. This requires two components: an Envoy S-Metered and CT coils in your meter box.

How to activate it:
Open the Enphase app and go to the Status page. Tap on your Profile in the top right corner, select Own Consumption, then choose Edit, followed by AI Optimization. Finally, tap on Add Electricity Import Rate and follow the instructions.

Note: Applying this setting may take several hours.

APsystems microinverters

Starting from Q3, APsystems microinverters will also support automatic shutdown of solar panels when electricity prices are negative. To use this feature, you will need an ECU-C and CT coils in your meter cabinet.

If your system does not yet support automatic shutdown, contact OptimaSolar. We will help ensure that your solar panel installation is fully prepared for dynamic energy prices, allowing you to switch off when needed and make the most of your self-generated solar power.