Solar energy and battery storage
Solar and batteries are not mandatory for charging, but together with smart control they raise self-consumption and smoothing capability.
The economics of solar depend on self-consumption: energy used on site is usually worth more than energy exported. An EV is the building's most flexible load and therefore the best user of solar output.
Self-consumption is the key metric
When daytime generation goes straight into a car battery or water heater, purchased energy falls. Workplace parking suits this especially well: cars stand exactly when the sun produces.
When a battery pays off
A battery buffer helps when the building has sharp peaks, many short fluctuations, or a wish to keep capacity in reserve. Without those, smart charging works on its own.
Realistic expectations in Estonia
Winter solar output is small, so solar is a spring-to-autumn lever while price-driven control works year round. We do not publish payback figures that are not based on a specific site's data.