What is self-consumption?
Self-consumption is the percentage of your solar panel production that you use directly. Without adjustments, this is typically 30-40% - the rest you export to the grid.
Self-consumption = (Directly used kWh / Total produced kWh) × 100%
Why is self-consumption important after 2027?
After net metering ends, there's a big price difference between electricity you use yourself and electricity you export:
Every kWh you use yourself instead of exporting is worth €0.25-0.30 more. With 1000 kWh extra self-consumption, you save €250-300 per year.
7 practical tips to increase your self-consumption
1. Shift high consumption to daytime
Run high-consumption appliances between 10:00-16:00, when your panels produce the most.
- Washing machine: schedule to start at 11:00
- Dishwasher: start after lunch
- Dryer: only run during daytime
2. Smart charge your electric car
Many EV chargers have a 'solar charging' mode. Charge during the day with excess solar power instead of at night.
3. Heat your home or boiler during the day
Have a heat pump or electric boiler? Schedule these to run during the day. Heat your home extra warm during the day so you need less heating in the evening.
4. Use smart plugs and timers
With smart plugs, you can automatically turn on appliances when the sun is shining. Some apps link this to your solar panel production.
5. Invest in a home battery
A 5-10 kWh battery stores excess energy for the evening. This increases your self-consumption from ~35% to 60-80%.
Read more about home batteriesCalculate your self-consumption
Our calculator shows your current self-consumption and how much you can save with adjustments or a battery.
Start calculation →