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With a dynamic energy contract, the electricity price changes throughout the day. You can purchase and store energy during advantageous periods. When the rate rises later, the stored energy can be used in the home. The ZinVolt Core helps to align these moments more intelligently.
The ZinVolt Core is an all-in-one home battery with a built-in inverter, battery storage, and smart energy management. The system can store available solar power. With a dynamic energy contract, the battery can also be set up around fluctuating electricity prices and desired charging times.
In this article, we explain how a dynamic energy contract works, the role the ZinVolt Core plays, and what you should consider before choosing a contract or home battery.
What is a dynamic energy contract?
With a fixed energy contract, you agree on a single supply rate for a certain period. With a dynamic energy contract, the supply rate fluctuates with the current prices on the energy market.
Depending on your energy contract, the electricity price changes every fifteen minutes or every hour. The gas rate usually changes daily. The rates for the next day are announced in advance via the energy supplier's app or website.
The electricity price is primarily determined by supply and demand. During periods of abundant sunshine, wind, or low electricity consumption, the rate may be lower. During cold, dark, or busy periods, the rate may increase.
With a dynamic contract, you immediately notice these price fluctuations:
- You benefit directly when the market price drops.
- You pay more directly when the market price rises.
- You can shift electricity consumption to more favorable times.
- The costs for a full year are harder to predict in advance.
For a dynamic energy contract, you need a smart meter. The energy supplier uses the meter data to determine how much electricity you have consumed or fed back during each price block.
The market price is not always your full electricity rate
Apps and news reports often only show the raw market price. This is not always the amount you ultimately pay per kilowatt-hour.
Your final electricity price may include:
- The current market price
- The purchase fee or surcharge from your energy supplier
- Energy tax
- VAT
- Fixed supply costs
- Any additional costs from your contract
Therefore, always check the full rate in your energy supplier's app. A low or negative market price does not automatically mean that your full electricity price is also negative.
Do you have solar panels? Then also check how your supplier handles feed-in. The feed-in tariff, purchase surcharge, and any feed-in costs can vary per energy supplier.
How does the ZinVolt Core work with dynamic energy prices?
The ZinVolt Core features smart energy management. Through the ZinVolt app, you can use various energy modes. With a dynamic energy contract, charging and discharging can be adjusted to fluctuating rates and set charging times.
This allows the Core, for example, to store energy during a more favorable price block. The stored electricity can later be made available when the rate is higher or when your home uses more energy.
The exact operation depends on:
- The chosen energy mode
- The settings in the ZinVolt app
- The current battery status
- The home's energy consumption
- The rates of the dynamic energy contract
- The available solar generation
The battery does not automatically continuously deliver maximum power. The smart control monitors what is happening in the home at that moment.
Three ways the ZinVolt Core can help
1. Charging during favorable hours
With a dynamic energy contract, there are regular times when the electricity price is lower. The Core can charge during set favorable times.
This can be interesting, for example, when a lot of wind energy is available at night. Low rates also regularly occur during the day when solar panels in the Netherlands generate a lot of electricity.
Therefore, it is not always the case that the night is the cheapest time. Check the current rates daily or use the smart settings of the battery.
2. Using stored energy during expensive hours
When the electricity price rises later, the battery can supply energy to the home. You then need to purchase less electricity at the higher rate during that time.
For example, if the home uses 2,000 W while the Core delivers 2,000 W from the battery, then no additional power needs to come from the electricity grid at that moment. This applies as long as sufficient energy is available in the battery.
The maximum charging and discharging power of the ZinVolt Core is 3,680 W with a suitable professional connection.
3. Storing solar power for later
A dynamic energy contract is not only interesting for purchasing favorable grid electricity. The Core can also store available solar power.
Solar panels often produce a lot of energy in the middle of the day. Home energy consumption is often lower at that time. The battery can store some of the surplus for the evening.
This means you have to feed back less solar power directly. Later in the day, you may draw less electricity from the grid.
A simple example calculation
Suppose the full electricity rate during a favorable period is €0.18 per kWh. Later in the day, the full rate rises to €0.38 per kWh.
You have the ZinVolt Core store 5 kWh during the favorable period:
5 kWh × €0.18 = €0.90 in purchase costs
If you use the same 5 kWh later during the more expensive period? Then, in theory, you avoid:
5 kWh × €0.38 = €1.90 in electricity purchases
The theoretical price difference in this example is €1.00.
Is every price difference interesting?
No. Charging and discharging is not automatically advantageous as soon as the rate differs by a few cents.
A battery itself uses energy during the conversion, storage, and re-delivery of electricity. In addition, some energy suppliers may charge a purchase fee or other costs per kilowatt-hour.
The price difference must be large enough to compensate for these losses and costs. Smart control prevents the battery from unnecessarily charging and discharging with a very small difference.
Frequent charging and discharging also affects the number of battery cycles. The Core is designed for long-term use. Nevertheless, it remains wise to only deploy the battery when it suits the chosen purpose.
Why is professional installation important?
The ZinVolt Core has a built-in inverter with a maximum charging and discharging capacity of 3,680 W. To safely utilize this power, we recommend professional installation via a dedicated circuit and disconnect switch.
The installer checks, among other things:
- The electrical connection of the home
- The available space in the meter cabinet
- The chosen phase
- The necessary cables and protection
- The desired location of the battery
- The connection with the P1 dongle and ZinVolt app
After installation, the Core is tested and configured. With a suitable connection, the system can then charge and discharge a maximum of 3,680 W.
The ZinVolt Core can also be connected via a suitable grounded outlet. For plug & play use, the available discharge capacity is set to a maximum of 800 W by default. For full power, professional installation remains the recommended choice.
What capacity suits dynamic rates?
The ZinVolt Core is available with 4, 8, 12, or 16 kWh storage capacity. A larger battery can store more energy, but is not automatically more advantageous.
The right capacity depends, among other things, on:
- Your daily electricity consumption
- The amount of solar power you feed back
- Consumption during expensive hours
- The price differences within your dynamic contract
- Any electric car or heat pump
- The amount of energy you can actually utilize each day
A battery that almost never runs empty may be larger than necessary. A battery that runs empty early every day, on the other hand, may be too small for the desired use.
With the Saldering Check, you get an initial indication of a suitable capacity based on your energy data.
When does a dynamic energy contract suit you?
A dynamic energy contract can be interesting if you are willing to adapt to fluctuating rates.
The contract often fits better when:
- You have a smart meter
- You want to intelligently control a home battery
- You regularly check the current rates
- You have financial room for temporary price increases
- You understand that the annual price is not fixed in advance
Do you value certainty about the electricity rate more? Then a fixed contract may suit you better. A home battery can also be used with a fixed or variable contract for storing solar power.
Get more out of dynamic energy prices with the ZinVolt Core
A dynamic energy contract offers opportunities to purchase electricity at advantageous times. The ZinVolt Core can store this energy and make it available later when your home needs it.
With solar panels, the system can also store available solar power for the evening. From 2027, this will become even more relevant, as fed-back electricity can no longer be net metered.
The financial outcome varies per household. Energy prices, contract costs, solar generation, storage capacity, and daily energy consumption all play a role. Therefore, we do not promise a fixed savings amount or a fixed payback period.
View the capacities and possibilities of the ZinVolt Core.
Do you want to know which capacity suits your situation? Then take the free Saldering Check.
Do you have questions about dynamic rates, installation, or smart control? Please contact ZinVolt. Our team will personally assist you.
