M&E Contrax Resources

Maximising Self Consumption

birds eye view of new commercial solar installation

Resource Highlights:

Self consumption is the percentage of solar electricity you use on site rather than exporting.

The easiest wins come from shifting electricity use into daylight hours and using smart timers.

Batteries, smart controls and EV charging can increase self consumption, but the best approach depends on your usage pattern.

How to use more of your solar electricity and reduce grid reliance

Self consumption means using the electricity your solar panels generate in your home or business, rather than exporting it to the grid. For most people, this is where the biggest financial benefit of solar comes from, because every unit you use on site is a unit you do not need to buy from the grid.

This guide explains what self consumption is, what affects it, and practical ways to increase it without overcomplicating your day.

What does “self consumption” actually mean?

When your solar panels generate electricity, your property uses that power automatically. If you generate more than you are using at that moment, the surplus is either:

stored in a battery, if you have one, or

exported to the grid

Self consumption is the amount of solar electricity you use yourself, either directly or via a battery later.

The goal is not always to reach 100 percent. The goal is to maximise value based on your lifestyle or operational needs.

Why self consumption matters more than export

Export tariffs such as SEG can pay for surplus electricity, but in many cases the financial benefit of using your own electricity is stronger, because you avoid buying that electricity at your import rate.

That is why improving self consumption often improves savings and payback.

What affects self consumption?

Your daily routine or operating hours

Home all day, higher natural self consumption

Out all day, lower self consumption unless you shift loads or use a battery

Businesses operating in daylight hours often have strong self consumption naturally

System size vs demand

If your solar system is larger than your typical daytime demand, you will export more unless you store or shift usage.

Weather and season

Summer produces more solar and makes it easier to cover daytime loads. Winter produces less, so self consumption can still be good but overall generation is lower.

Battery storage and control settings

Battery behaviour affects how much solar you use later. A well configured battery increases self consumption and reduces imports.

The easiest ways to increase self consumption

Shift flexible loads into daylight hours

Where practical, run these during the day:

washing machine and tumble dryer

dishwasher

immersion heater or hot water heating

dehumidifiers

workshop tools and charging devices

Even small routine changes can make a difference.

Use timers and smart plugs

Timers remove the effort. Set appliances to run between late morning and mid afternoon when solar generation is usually stronger.

Avoid stacking high loads at once

If several high load items run together, you may still pull electricity from the grid. Spreading loads helps solar cover more of the demand.

Monitor your output and spot patterns

A monitoring app will show when you export and when you import. This helps you make targeted changes rather than guessing.

Using a battery to increase self consumption

A battery stores surplus solar during the day and supplies it later. This can increase self consumption significantly, especially for evening heavy households.

A battery tends to be most useful when:

you export a noticeable amount during the day

you import a noticeable amount in the evening

you have consistent patterns so the battery cycles regularly

Battery sizing matters. A battery that rarely charges or rarely discharges may not deliver the best value.

Find out more about battery storage here

Simple way to maximise self consumption

If you want the simplest approach, use this five step plan:

Check your monitoring for when you export most electricity

Move one or two flexible loads into that window using timers

Spread out high load appliances rather than stacking them

If exports remain high and evening imports are high, consider battery storage

This keeps changes practical and evidence based.

Frequently Asked Questions

Your monitoring app should show generation, usage, export and import. From this you can see how much solar you use on site.

Storing usually increases self consumption and reduces grid imports, but the best choice depends on your battery cost, usage pattern and export tariff.

Yes. Many businesses already have strong self consumption because they operate during the day. Improvements often come from matching system size to load and managing peaks.

Yes. Solar generation is lower in winter, but self consumption can still be high if your daytime demand remains steady. The main change is total generation.