| 摘要 |
<p>An energy management method for a thermal energy store such as a hot water tank 1 comprises estimating an amount of energy that will be provided by at least one renewable energy device 6 over a future time interval to heat the store and estimating an amount of energy that will be demanded from the store over the interval. If the estimated energy provided is less than the estimated energy demanded then an amount of energy needed to meet this deficit using mains electricity is estimated. A cost of providing this mains electricity during the future time interval and before the future time interval is estimated using tariff information. If the cost is cheaper before the future time interval than during then energy is provided to the store using mains electricity before the future time interval, preferably by activating an immersion heater 2. A hedging function taking thermal losses of the store into consideration may be used to correct the estimated amount of energy that will be demanded from the store. The at least one renewable energy device may be a solar photovoltaic panel. An apparatus having an electronic control unit 10 that performs the method is also claimed.</p> |
