Consumer energy management and storage trends

Consumers are gaining access to new hardware and digital tools designed to optimize solar energy storage and manage electricity costs.

In Germany, retailers like Netto have offered significant discounts on Zendure SolarFlow 800 Plus batteries to help users increase the economic return of balcony-mounted solar systems. These units allow for the storage of daytime generation for evening use. Expanding on these trends, Zendure has extended discounts on various home battery systems, including the SolarFlow 2400 AC+, which utilizes HEMS 2.0 smart energy management. Simultaneously, new mobile applications have been launched to assist users with dynamic energy contracts by providing real-time notifications of electricity market prices, enabling consumers to shift high-consumption activities to periods when prices are lowest.

In the Netherlands, the transition toward managed energy consumption is facing policy-driven challenges. Dutch housing corporations, such as Stadlander, Eigen Haard, and Portaal, are seeking compensation following proposed reductions in Energy Performance Allowance (EPV) rates. These cuts, ranging from 24 to over 54 percent, follow the planned abolition of the net metering scheme for solar panels on January 1, 2027. Corporations argue this shift places the financial burden of energy-efficient investments on landlords, potentially threatening the viability of zero-on-the-meter housing.

Additionally, the Consumentenbond has proposed restructuring energy taxes to favor households. Drawing on research by Berenschot, the organization suggests lowering electricity taxes to near-zero levels—modeled after the Danish system—by increasing gas taxes for large consumers using over 1000m³. This proposal aims to make sustainable energy more attractive while remaining cost-neutral for the government.