hello,
i have a solaredge system.
i heat water via a 50 gallon gas water heater and an upstream 20 gallon electric water heater.
QUESTIONS
1) IN GENERAL, is it more profitable to directly use excess solar power in the electric water heater OR to sell it back to the power company?
i understand there are many factors to consider: cost of electricity, cost of natural gas, amount of hot water used, inefficiency of the solar system.
2) is there a smart controller switch responsive to surplus solar power production to power the electric water heater?
i currently use a timer on the electric water heater between the hours of 10am to 3pm during spring and summer where there is typically surplus power
production. of course during cloudy days there is a deficit production wherein using electricity for water heating would definitely not be economical wrt the gas
water heater operation.
i have a solaredge system.
i heat water via a 50 gallon gas water heater and an upstream 20 gallon electric water heater.
QUESTIONS
1) IN GENERAL, is it more profitable to directly use excess solar power in the electric water heater OR to sell it back to the power company?
i understand there are many factors to consider: cost of electricity, cost of natural gas, amount of hot water used, inefficiency of the solar system.
2) is there a smart controller switch responsive to surplus solar power production to power the electric water heater?
i currently use a timer on the electric water heater between the hours of 10am to 3pm during spring and summer where there is typically surplus power
production. of course during cloudy days there is a deficit production wherein using electricity for water heating would definitely not be economical wrt the gas
water heater operation.