Electric heating feels simple: just plug it in and you're done. But it can significantly impact your energy bill—especially with dynamic energy prices. That's why more and more households are looking into solar panels combined with a home battery: can you then primarily run your electric heating (or electric heater) on your own solar power?
In this article, we'll cut through the marketing hype and do the practical calculations: when does a solar panel battery truly benefit you, and when does it not? We'll cover how consumption peaks arise, what your smart meter tells you about them, and how storage can increase your self-consumption. We'll also show where the Sunpura S2400 fits into this picture, without complicated technical jargon.
Why electric heating can quickly become expensive
An electric heater is often an "all-or-nothing" consumer: you turn it on and it immediately draws a lot of power. You notice this especially in winter, when you heat for longer and more often. The point is not just how many kWh you use, but especially when you use those kWhs.
Many people heat in the evenings and at night. And that's exactly when your solar panels provide little to no power. With dynamic energy prices, this timing can hit particularly hard.
That's why the combination of electric heating + home battery comes into play: you try to power your evening consumption with electricity you generate yourself during the day.
Solar panels + home battery: what really changes?
From feeding back to self-consumption (and why that matters)
Without storage, part of your solar power goes back to the grid. That seems logical, but it doesn't directly help your evening heating. With a solar panel battery, it's about something different: using your own electricity later, instead of first feeding it back and then buying it again.
For electric heating, that difference is significant. Your heating time is often after sunset, while your generation peaks during the day. A battery makes it possible to bridge that gap. You increase your self-consumption and buy less electricity when you need it most.
From January 1, 2027, the net metering scheme will end; self-consumption will then become even more relevant. (Dutch Government) (Milieu Centraal)
What your smart meter can already tell you
You don't have to guess whether a battery is useful. Your smart meter already shows you how your consumption is distributed throughout the day. What you look for: do you have a lot of consumption in the evening and a lot of feed-in during the day? Then there is often a mismatch that storage can improve.
If you have access to the P1 port smart meter (or an app that shows your daily graph), look at three things: 1) how much you use after 5:00 PM, 2) how much you feed back in the middle of the day, and 3) whether you have short peaks when heating switches on.
Want to measure this more easily? A P1 reader often provides faster insight into consumption and feed-in. For example: Sunpura P1 Meter.
If you see a lot of evening consumption and midday feed-in, a home battery can help you keep more of your own solar power at home.
Which electric heating options are suitable for solar panels (and which are less so)
Electric heater, infrared, and underfloor heating: profile per type
Not every form of electric heating "behaves" the same. A classic electric heater heats up quickly, but often immediately demands a lot of power. This is convenient for comfort, but less so if you primarily heat in the evenings without storage.
Infrared often works more targeted: you heat a zone (desk, seating area) instead of the entire room. This allows you to better control the time and duration—and thus better connect to solar power or battery hours.
Electric underfloor heating has more inertia. This can actually be beneficial: you can "pre-heat" earlier in the day (when the sun is out), so you need to add less in the evening.
Heat pump as context (but focus on electric heating)
Many people immediately compare it to a heat pump. Understandable: a heat pump usually delivers more heat per kWh than direct electric heating. But not everyone can or wants to make that step now—think of rental homes, temporary solutions, or supplementary heating per room.
Think of it this way: a heat pump is mainly about the efficiency of heat generation. A battery is mainly about smartly managing when you use or store power. If you are currently working primarily with electric heating, you can already achieve a lot of gains by better timing.
The role of the battery in practical electric heating
When a battery does help (and when it doesn't)
Storage is particularly helpful if you often have "surplus" solar power during the day and a shortage of power in the evening. This is typical for households where few people are home during the day, but electric heating is used in the evening.
It becomes less favorable if you have hardly any surplus in winter. Then there is simply less solar energy to store. This doesn't mean a battery is useless per se, but the effect on electric heating may be smaller if you primarily heat on cloudy days.
Power vs capacity: the 2 misconceptions that ruin efficiency
This is where many people go wrong: Watt (W) and Watt-hour (Wh) are not the same. Power (W) determines whether your device can operate. Capacity (Wh) determines how long you can sustain it.
The Sunpura S2400 is specified with a rated power of 2400W (single device) and rated energy of 2400Wh, with 90% DOD. The datasheet also mentions 3600W peak power (5s), which can be relevant for short start-up peaks of some loads.
Practically, this means: an electric heater with high power can quickly drain your battery. That's why a smart approach often works better: using your battery for the most expensive hours or for supplementary heating in a zone, instead of "everything all evening."
The Sunpura S2400 in this scenario: what you can expect
- • Retrofit solution: works with your existing solar panels.
- • Capacity: 2.4 kWh basic module (stackable up to 9.6 kWh).
- • Plug & Play: designed to keep things simple at home.
- • Focus: more self-consumption and smarter management of hourly rates.
- • Safety: LiFePO₄ cells, IP65, relevant standards.
Read more about dynamic tariffs: Vereniging Eigen Huis.
Practical specifications that matter for heating
When it comes to electric heating, you look at three things: how much power you can deliver, how much energy you can store, and how robust the system is. The S2400 combines 2400W (single device) with 2400Wh of storage and 90% DOD.
For placement and daily use, the general conditions are also important: IP65 and an operating temperature of -20°C to 55°C. In addition, grid-related standards such as VDE4105 and EN50549 are mentioned, which helps to build confidence regarding grid connection and compliance. (Background: VDE-AR-N 4105)
Example strategies (without complicated formulas)
With a home battery, you usually don't win by letting "everything run." You win by cleverly choosing when to store and when to discharge—especially if you're working with dynamic energy prices.
- Charge during the day when your solar panels feed back (more self-consumption).
- In the evening, use the battery for the first, most expensive heating hours.
- See it as a "plug battery" solution: manage by moments, not by maximum runtime.
The smart meter helps you check if the effect is visible: less feed-in during the day, less consumption during the evening peak.
Profitability: how to make it concrete for your home
The 5 factors that determine your result
- When do you heat? Mostly in the evening = higher chance that storage helps.
- How much solar power do you often feed back? A lot of feed-in = more "fuel" for storage.
- What contract do you have? Fixed rate or dynamic energy prices changes the calculation.
- How high is your basic consumption? A battery can also cover your evening base load, not just heating.
- Can you control it? For example, zone heating, shorter but more targeted heating, or part of the heat earlier in the day.
Mini calculation example (realistic and sober)
Suppose you use an electric heater for a few hours each evening. You calculate energy consumption simply: power (kW) × time (hours) = kWh. Then you see what portion of those kWhs you can cover with your own solar power and storage. This is limited by maximum power (can it run your heater?) and available energy (how long can it last?).
Your "savings" are in the kWhs you don't have to purchase during expensive times. With dynamic tariffs, it's about the difference between cheap and expensive hours; with fixed tariffs, it's mainly about buying less and smarter self-consumption. This is not a guarantee of profit—it's a calculation template you fill in with your own data.
Installation, safety, and grid rules (brief but reassuring)
With electricity and heating, you don't want any hassle. Therefore, choose an approach that suits your home and, if in doubt, have an installer check it, especially if you are working with fixed connections or higher loads.
Do you want to read everything calmly first or consult the installation checklist? Then check out our manuals or download the app for more insight.
According to the datasheet, the S2400 is designed for outdoor conditions with IP65 and an operating temperature of -20°C to 55°C. The datasheet also mentions relevant grid standards such as VDE4105 and EN50549, which helps with confidence regarding grid connection and compliance.
Placement remains important: ensure adequate ventilation, no water accumulation, and neat cable routing. And pay attention to your circuit load: an electric heater on one circuit can lead to overload when combined with other appliances.
Checklist: are you a good match for electric heating with a battery?
- You often use electric heating after 5:00 PM or on weekends.
- During the day, your solar panels regularly feed back (you see this in your app or on your smart meter).
- You have clear peaks due to an electric heater or other large consumer.
- You are open to controlling: zone heating, shorter but more targeted heating, or part of it earlier in the day.
- You have (or want) insight via a P1 port smart meter or a consumption app.
Do you tick multiple boxes? Then it makes sense to take the next step: retrieve your consumption data and link your heating times to your solar generation. Want more practical tips? Check out our Advice articles.
Disclaimer
This blog is intended as general information and is not financial, legal, or installation advice. Actual savings and profitability depend on your home, consumption, seasons, energy contract (e.g., dynamic energy prices), tariffs, grid costs, and policy rules. Use your own smart meter data for a calculation and, if in doubt, consult a qualified professional.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Questions about your situation? Contact our team.
