smartBoiler

OEM solution for residential developers.

With the smartBoiler for households, we enable the use of surplus energy in the power grid at particularly favourable conditions. Thanks to an intelligent control system, locally generated PVSstrom can be optimally consumed on site, which significantly increases the self-consumption rate and relieves the power grid.

In cooperation with Austria Email, commercially available hot water storage tanks are made “smart” through the use of IoT technology and securely connected to a virtual power plant via the A1 mobile network. If there is too much electricity available in the grid, the built-in control unit receives a signal and heats up the boiler with excess energy.

Cushioning rising energy costs

Use surplus energy

Use self-produced PV electricity

Our technology also makes it possible for apartment buildings to efficiently use the self-produced photovoltaic electricity on site for hot water preparation. Installation is simple and the free choice of energy supplier remains.

Application of balancing energy

Use surplus energy to heat up the boiler

The Challenge

The steadily growing use of renewable energy sources poses major challenges for the power grid. Electricity generation from wind and solar energy is naturally subject to great fluctuations. These irregularities must be compensated for in order to keep the power grid stable. If there is too much electricity in the grid, this surplus energy must be consumed – but private households, as central energy consumers, are currently not technically able to do this.

Our solution

For the first time, our smartBoiler technology can also use surplus energy for private households. The smartBoiler is intelligently controlled via the mobile network with the help of an IoT controller and can participate in the balancing energy market. If there is too much electricity available in the grid, it can be obtained free of charge and used to heat up the smartBoiler.

Application Photovoltaics

Using PV in-house production in the residential complex

The Challenge

Self-produced, free PV electricity that could be used in the apartment building is fed into the power grid at a flat rate and then purchased again by the energy supplier when required. The use of PV energy is associated with high costs for structural measures, cabling and billing systems when using conventional technologies.

Our solution

Our solution is easy to install, without complex and expensive installationa wired controller. PV electricity can thus be easily consumed on site instead of feeding it into the grid at a flat rate. Wireless controllers measure PV production and the status of the smartBoilers in the home. The measured values are securely transmitted to the A1 data center via the mobile network. An intelligent system calculates which devices can be switched on in order to make the best possible use of PV production.

Advantages for property developers

  • Increased attractiveness of the property
  • Better starting position in tenders and awards due to an innovative energy concept
  • Competitive advantages over other housing associations
  • No additional electrical installations necessary
  • No distribution losses
  • Relief for property management through remote diagnostics

Advantages for
residents

  • Significant reduction in energy costs
  • Compared to the night switch, more hot water due to additional recharges
  • Automatic legionella protection
  • Reduce CO2 emissions and make an active contribution to climate protection

Reference projects

Völs – Balancing energy

As part of the “Tirol 2050 Energieautonom” initiative of the Tyrolean state government, we have contributed to the realization of an innovative smart building pilot project in Völs. A building built in the 1970s underwent a comprehensive thermal and energy renovation and made “smart” by implementing smart applications. In addition to other networked energy management systems, our smartBoilers ensure a significant reduction in energy consumption.

“In our pilot project, we were able to obtain up to 69% or an average of approx. 47% balancing energy from the power grid with the smartBoiler. In addition, our residents benefit from reduced energy costs for hot water preparation.”

Alexander Zlotek
Managing Director
Alpenländische Gemeinnützige WohnbauGmbH

Hitzendorf – Photovoltaics

As part of a large pilot project in cooperation with Energie Steiermark, IDM, Decision Trees and ÖWG, we have achieved a significant reduction in energy costs for a residential building in Hitzendorf near Graz. The central component of the project is the use of locally produced photovoltaic energy. smartBoilers and heat pumps are controlled by a mathematically optimized roadmap in order to consume PV electricity themselves and to use favorable time windows for electricity purchase from the balancing energy market.

“In conjunction with photovoltaics, the smartBoiler increases the self-consumption rate to up to 70% and thus noticeably reduces electricity costs for tenants.”

Alexander Lackner
Head of Active Asset Management
ÖWG Housing