KNX Hackathon Finalist: EMergy'nX

Given inflation, rising energy prices and the need to reduce our carbon footprints, the pressure is on to lower our consumption and decrease our reliance on energy suppliers. Self-generation is a logical way forward, but before doing so, the existing set-up should be checked to ensure that it is as efficient as possible.

Having received requests from several upscale villa owners to reduce their energy bills by implementing a photovoltaic (PV) panel system, we developed a solution that would first monitor their current usage and then optimise their proposed PV set-ups.

Most solutions on the market are single-purpose. For instance, you might buy panels to power your pool filtration and heat pump. 

Or you might purchase panels for self-consumption without knowing which appliances will be used during production, and having to manually start them. When inverters are equipped with relays for load management, they only provide on-off relay control. 

This approach falls short when you have systems such as room-by-room heating/cooling regulation, variable-speed pool pumps, or thermodynamic heat pumps. 

We used the Can’nX Graf’nX system, that integrates KNX, Modbus, or IP (MQTT) meters into an online energy dashboard, in order to understand consumption patterns and identify abnormalities caused by equipment due to malfunctions or incorrect settings. For example, in previous projects, we found a thermodynamic hot water tank that was constantly running on electric resistance (50kWh/day); pool filtrations operating 24/7 (120kWh/day) even in mid-season due to incorrect water quality set up; and a pool heat pump left on during unoccupied colder months, consuming 50kWh versus 15kWh in warmer months.

At this initial stage, the gains were substantial for the projects in question, as nearly 25MWh per project could be saved, resulting in a reduction of 2.5 tons of CO2 emissions. 

After several months of consumption monitoring, we proposed a tailored solution using PV panels and storage combined with the Can’nX Emergy’nX energy optimisation software. Hybrid inverters for PV panel production, combined with energy storage batteries were integrated into the existing KNX installation comprising hot water tanks, HVAC, pool filtration, pool heat pumps and electric vehicle charging stations.

The energy optimisation software allows automatic control of major power consumers to be finely tuned, with priority orders chosen by the occupant, all without compromising their comfort. 

Based on fluctuating energy costs and PV production levels, it finely manages battery charge and discharge cycles and automatic operation of necessary equipment to create energy surplus, thereby minimising usage during periods of high electricity pricing.

The implementation of energy management combined with renewable energy sources leads to significant savings:

• Implementing Graf’nX monitoring results in approximately 15% savings in most installations.
• Installing photovoltaic panels provides around 30% savings.
• Using EMergy’nX energy optimisation without a battery leads to around 50% savings.
• Having a battery without optimisation results in roughly 80% savings.
• Employing a battery with EMergy’nX optimisation leads to approximately 90% savings.