New Moixa Dashboard update: choosing between operation modes
We have developed a new feature that offers you more control over your battery’s behaviour, allowing you to choose between different operation modes for your device: Balance, Scheduled, and Smart (Smart mode is available for 4.8kWh or larger devices).
Where can you see the new feature?
We have just rolled out this update, and you should be able to now see it on the battery page of your Moixa Dashboard (mygridshare.com). At this stage, the new functionality will not be available in your Moixa App.
Different operation modes for your battery
The new feature will enable you to choose between three operation modes for your device: Balance, Scheduled, and Smart.
Balance mode: when your energy storage system is in Balance mode, the battery will charge when excess solar generation is available and discharge when there is household demand, in order to maximise use of your self-generated solar energy.
Scheduled mode: your battery will follow your own plan composed of charge and idle instructions in 30-minute increments. These instructions will always be repeated weekly and can be replicated for different days of the week.
For periods where no charging instructions have been added, the default behaviour is Balance.
Smart mode: in Smart mode, your battery will generate an optimal charging plan based on a combination of Moixa’s AI predictions of your solar generation and household consumption, and your tariff. This charging plan will aim to provide you with the lowest-cost energy possible by maximising the use of solar and off-peak energy to power your home. This mode is best for those on a time-of-use tariff. Please note that this mode is only available for customers with a 4.8kWh or larger battery.
Your control over operation modes – when can you choose between them?
When your battery is first installed and you have submitted your tariff details, your device is put in Balance mode. For 14 days after installation, we strongly recommend that it stays in Balance mode or Scheduled mode. If you put your device in Smart mode, we cannot guarantee optimal performance for your battery.
After that time, we will have enough data to generate accurate predictions for Smart mode, and we will review and recommend which mode out of Balance, Scheduled or Smart is most appropriate for you. We will continue to monitor your home’s energy data and adjust the mode we consider to be optimal for you.
However, this new feature allows you to select any of these modes, overriding Moixa’s selection at any time. If you have chosen a different mode from the one we recommended, please note that this may impact your battery’s performance and the savings you could otherwise have made.
Please note that your battery is currently running on an optimal plan; therefore, there is no need to choose a different mode unless you are planning some changes in your behaviour or want to prepare your battery for a one-off event.
Your guide to the new operation modes – how to use them for different scenarios
Balance mode
In Balance mode, your battery will charge when excess solar generation is available and discharge when there is household demand. This enables you to use more of your self-generated solar energy and reduce the amount of energy you buy from the grid.
If you are on a flat tariff, this will be the best operation mode for you, as you do not have any low-tariff periods that you could charge from on poor solar generation days.
This operation mode is also helpful if you plan to be away from home for a certain period (e.g. if you go on holiday) and know that your household consumption will be significantly reduced. By choosing this mode, you can prevent your battery from charging from the grid while you are away.
Scheduled mode
With Scheduled mode, you will be able to control when your battery charges by creating a personalised charging plan and setting up charge and idle instructions (in 30-minute increments) for different days of the week. These instructions will always be repeated weekly and can be repeated for different days of the week. Please note that your battery will follow balance behaviour whilst staying in Scheduled mode for periods where you have not added your own charging instruction. You do not need to define the times for your battery to be in balance as this is the default behaviour for any time without a charging or idle instruction.
Scheduled mode could be helpful if your household is not suitable for Smart mode as it does not have predictable and regular consumption habits. By setting up your own weekly repeating schedule for when your battery charges, you can achieve additional savings on top of solar optimisation.
This mode is especially useful if you are on a static time-of-use tariff, that is, a tariff with variable pricing that repeats each day. This is because you can set up a specific charging plan to make the most of your tariff and maximise your monetary savings.
Scheduled mode might also be a good option if you would like your battery to work alongside another solar diverting device by only operating at set hours each day, or would like the battery to remain idle at set hours for better compatibility with other devices, such as an EV charger.
If your energy supplier offers any periods of free electricity, such as Octopus’ Power Hour, you will also be able to take advantage of this by charging the battery during this time. If you set an instruction for a one-off event, just remember to remove it from your schedule afterwards, so your battery does not repeat this in subsequent weeks.
Please note that in the event of deviations from predicted solar or household consumption, the Scheduled mode does not adapt to them, but it will always follow the scheduled plan you have set. The impact of this on your battery’s performance and potential savings is your responsibility.
Smart mode with GridShare’s optimisation software
When your battery is in Smart mode*, its behaviour is optimised by Moixa’s GridShare software. GridShare’s AI identifies your home’s solar generation and consumption patterns alongside weather forecast data and your import and export tariffs. Based on all these inputs, it generates a personalised daily charging plan for your battery.
We strongly recommend that you choose Smart mode if you are on a time-of-use tariff. GridShare is especially beneficial over cloudy days and winter months – when less solar is available. The software will enable you to store energy from the grid when wholesale prices are low, which you can then use at peak times to maximise savings. By storing power when prices are low, you will also be helping to incorporate more renewable energy into the national power system. More information on time-of-use tariffs can be found in our blog.
Please note that for Smart mode to optimise your battery’s performance successfully, you will need to submit your tariff details to our Support team. To do so or to update your tariff details, please contact them at support@moixa.com.
*Please be aware that Smart mode is only available for customers with a 4.8kWh or larger battery.
Switching modes
If you switch to Balance mode and Scheduled mode, the change is immediate, while switching from Balance and Scheduled mode to Smart mode will take a few minutes (as our AI has to generate a new charging plan).
After changing operation modes, you will see a message confirming the change has been successful. Your current mode, upcoming charging plan and future charging instructions will then update.
How the new feature will show on your Dashboard
The new feature will show slightly different data depending on the type of device you own and the current charging plan you have set.
We have also updated the information bubbles to help explain the new functionality and any new terminology: you can find these in the top right corner of every feature.
4.8kWh Moixa Smart Battery & larger systems
Figure 1: Illustrative image of a 4.8kWh battery in Scheduled mode with an overnight charge, showing the Smart and Scheduled mode settings.
V3 and V3C batteries
Figure 2: Illustrative image of a V3C battery in Scheduled mode with an overnight charge plan set up showing the Scheduled and Balance mode settings.
Your ‘Current mode’ may appear as ‘Loading’ if your operation mode has never been changed or you are on a custom-set plan by our Support team that includes a charge rate other than your maximum rate and/or a different minimum state of charges. Even if your current mode states ‘Loading’, your battery will still be following the behaviour stated in your upcoming charging plan and future charging instructions.
If you have never changed your operation mode and are running a Balance plan, you can click ‘Switch to Balance mode’ to update the current mode from ‘Loading’ to ‘Balance’.
If you have a custom-set plan by our Support team, please leave your plan as it is, as your battery is following a behaviour that is not available on the ‘Battery operation mode’ feature.
Figure 3: Illustrative image of a custom-set plan by our Support team, including a minimum state of charge as 70%.
Flexibility events and trials
Please note that if your battery is due to participate in any flexibility events or trials, you will not have access to this feature, and it will not be visible on your Moixa Dashboard. Our Support team will be providing a separate update over email to confirm more details on this if you are affected.
For a more detailed guide on how to use the new operation modes to achieve optimal performance for your battery, please refer to the ‘Smart Optimisation and Operation Modes’ section on our Help Centre.
If you have any questions about the above, please don’t hesitate to contact our Customer Support team at support@moixa.com. Alternatively, you can check our Help Centre.