Ökofen combines electricity and heat management in one system

Heating technology manufacturer Ökofen is expanding its portfolio to include an integrated energy system for residential buildings.

The focus is on the so-called " GreenBox ," which links electricity generation, storage, and heating requirements. With this, the company is also entering the battery storage market.

Central control for multiple trades

The GreenBox functions as an energy management system that integrates various components within the building. These include battery storage, a heat pump, a pellet heating system, a photovoltaic system, an electric immersion heater, and a wallbox . The goal is to manage electricity flow and heating demand not separately, but together. According to the manufacturer, the system takes into account that a large portion of a household's energy consumption is for heating. While many storage solutions primarily optimize electricity production from photovoltaics, the GreenBox is designed to also incorporate future heating demand into its control system.

Forecast-based control

Technically, the system relies on the evaluation of various data sources . These include weather forecasts, solar path, electricity prices, and household consumption data. Using this information, the system controls the charging and discharging processes of the battery storage system as well as the operation of the heating generators. The system includes battery storage units with capacities between 7,7 and 30,7 kWh and hybrid inverters with outputs from 6 to 20 kW . According to the manufacturer, the system is capable of providing emergency power and can start even without a grid connection.

Response to changed circumstances

The development is driven, among other things, by declining feed-in tariffs for photovoltaic power and the often-lacking coordination between electricity and heating systems in buildings. The system is aimed particularly at households with existing or planned PV systems, as well as buildings with heat pumps or pellet heating systems . The solution is modular and can also be integrated into existing systems. Control and visualization are handled via an app , which can be used to operate the heating system, electricity storage, and charging infrastructure.

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Background: Ökofen battery storage Click here for an overview of Ökofen battery storage systems.

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