Controlling SG-Ready Heat Pumps with Homey
SG-Ready (Smart Grid Ready) heat pumps are becoming increasingly common in modern households. As such, they present a significant opportunity for advanced energy savings, as they can be smartly controlled by home energy management systems and modern smart home hubs like Homey.
By leveraging the SG-Ready standard, Homey can intelligently adjust the operation of your heat pump between different modes to save you money, without hurting comfort. But, what is the SG-Ready standard? How does it operate and what are its requirements? And how can it be leveraged in a smart home?
At a glance
- SG-Ready (Smart Grid Ready) is a control standard for (mostly) heat pumps
- Developed in Germany and adopted across Europe
- Standardizes control into 4 modes: off, normal, boost & max
- Allows for energy management by HEMS and smart home systems like Homey
- Can be controlled through dry contact relays with Homey
- Combine with solar panels or dynamic energy prices to optimize time-of-consumption
- Future-proofs your home and integrates intelligently with the grid
What is the SG-Ready Standard?
SG-Ready (Smart Grid Ready) is a standardized communication interface that enables devices such as heat pumps or solar panel systems to respond to external signals from the electricity grid or energy providers.
This capability allows heat pumps to adjust their operation based on electricity prices, current grid load, or the availability of renewable energy sources. The core principle behind the standard is to enable a demand response. Energy consumption is shifted away from peak demand periods to times when electricity is cheaper and/or greener.
SG-Ready Standard Origins
The SG-Ready standard originated in Germany in 2012, through collaborative efforts involving heat pump manufacturers, energy providers, and research institutions. The aim was to create a uniform and interoperable interface that would allow for seamless communication between heat pumps and smart grid infrastructure. Today, the standard includes over 100 manufacturers with over 4500 different SG-Ready devices.
Although the standard initially focused on heat pumps, its interface and principles also allow other compatible devices, like solar panels and energy storage systems, to respond to grid signals and optimize their energy use. The SG-Ready standard has gained traction across Europe and is increasingly being implemented in other countries, such as Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
SG-Ready Requirements and Operating Modes
To carry the SG-Ready label, a device like a heat pump must meet certain technical requirements. The standard requires that compatible heat pumps support all four defined operating modes, controlled via voltage-free contacts. These modes allow external controllers like Homey to influence and control the pump's behavior.
The four standardized operating modes for SG-Ready devices are:
- Blocked Operation (Off): In this mode, the energy supplier or grid operator can temporarily block the heat pump's operation to avoid peak loads on the grid.
- Normal Operation: The heat pump operates in its standard, energy-efficient mode according to its own internal controls and settings.
- Recommended On (Boost): In this mode, an external signal recommends the heat pump to increase its operation, usually to utilize surplus renewable energy or during periods of lower electricity prices.
- Forced On (Maximum): This mode commands the heat pump to switch on, with increased output, to take advantage of favorable conditions or grid demands.
Furthermore, the controller must be able to switch between all four of these operating states based on signals received through its interface. This ensures that HEMS like Homey can effectively communicate with SG-Ready heat pumps through smart devices and optimize energy usage.
Controlling SG-Ready Heat Pumps with Homey
Think of your SG-Ready heat pump as always listening for simple on/off signals to switch between its energy-saving or boost modes. Based on various signals like solar generation, electricity prices, or your personal preferences, Homey decides when to send these signals.
SG-Ready heat pumps require dry-contact relays to act as actuators and cycle between the four operating modes on demand. By wiring these to the inputs on your heat pump, Homey can effectively control your SG-Ready heat pump and optimize your home's electricity usage.
For example, you can use voltage-free Shelly modules such as the Shelly Pro 2 or Plus 1, both compatible with Homey. Other brands offering Homey-compatible dry-contact modules include Aqara, Sonoff, Aeotec, Fibaro and others.
Leveraging Energy Monitoring Data
Homey can perform all functions (and beyond) typical of a Home Energy Management System (HEMS). Operating as the central controller of all your smart devices, Homey seamlessly connects with various smart devices from different brands and protocols. Smart lights, switches, thermostats, appliances, electric vehicles, or SG-Ready devices like solar panels and heat pumps can be controlled with Homey.
Adding an energy meter like the Homey Energy Dongle enhances the intelligence and effectiveness of your SG-Ready controls by providing valuable insights into your overall energy consumption. While standard SG-Ready heat pump control relies on dry contact switches, the detailed energy data from a P1 meter allows Homey to make smarter decisions about when and how to activate the heat pump's operating modes based on your household's energy patterns and insights.
Using its intuitive Flow system, Homey automates the control process:
Reacting to Solar Power
If your solar panels are producing excess energy, Homey can activate the "Boost" mode on your heat pump. This maximizes your self-consumption of clean energy and reduces your reliance on the grid, leading to lower electricity bills.
Responding to Electricity Prices
Homey can monitor electricity prices and switch the heat pump to a higher consumption mode when prices are low. This allows you to effectively store energy as heat during off-peak hours, saving you money when electricity costs more.
Implementing Schedules
You can create schedules in Homey to automatically adjust the operating mode of your heat pump. For example, you can schedule it to avoid running during typical peak demand hours when the grid is overloaded, helping to stabilize the energy supply and potentially saving you money.
Benefits of Using SG-Ready Heat Pumps
Integrating SG-Ready heat pumps offers homeowners several key advantages centered on optimized energy management and grid interaction. These benefits contribute to both individual savings and broader energy system efficiency.
Reduced Energy Costs
SG-Ready enables heat pumps to respond to external price signals, allowing for consumption to be shifted to periods with lower electricity tariffs when integrated with a compatible energy management system like Homey.
Increased Self-Consumption of Renewable Energy
Got solar panels? SG-Ready heat pumps are your new best friend. Homey can tell your heat pump to heat more water or your home when your solar panels are generating extra energy. This means you're using your own clean power to the maximum, cutting down on grid electricity and boosting your savings.
Contribution to Grid Stability
By having an SG-Ready heat pump, you're also playing a part in keeping the electricity grid stable. When everyone demands a lot of power at once, your heat pump can temporarily ease off, preventing overloads. It's a team effort that benefits everyone and supports a more reliable energy system.
Enhanced Comfort and Convenience
Smart control of your SG-Ready heat pump through Homey means comfort without the fuss. It can automatically adjust based on your schedule, the weather, or even energy prices, ensuring your home is always just right without you lifting a finger.
Future-Proofing Your Home
Adopting SG-Ready aligns with the evolving smart grid landscape, ensuring compatibility with future energy management services and potentially unlocking further benefits.
In short, SG-Ready heat pumps, when controlled intelligently, give you the power to save money, use cleaner energy, and enjoy a more comfortable home – all while contributing to a smarter and more sustainable energy future.
Future of SG-Ready and Smart Grid Integration
SG-Ready empowers you to cut energy costs by letting your heat pump use power when it's cheaper and greener. As smart grids and renewable energy become more common, SG-Ready will give you even greater control over your energy use.
More smart devices in your home will adopt this standard, working seamlessly together. Homey's ever-growing device compatibility list and user-friendly Flow system let you create essential energy saving automations. They can react to real-time energy prices, solar power production, or your daily routines to give you the best possible energy savings of your home.
