Only 1.5 hours of sunlight per day in December: how can you still benefit from your solar panels? | My guide

Over the past 20 years, there has been an average of 63 hours of sunshine in November. This is clear from RMI statistics. In December, we have to make do with barely 45 hours. This means that we have to make do with about an hour and a half of sunlight every day. And it is precisely the rare moments of solar energy production that ensure that solar panel and digital meter owners pay a lower electricity bill.

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Consumers who use a digital meter would do well to adjust their consumption to fit those rare hours of sunlight. For classic reverse counter owners, timing is not an issue. The Flemish Energy and Climate Agency’s (VEKA) energy forecaster indicates when you can expect the highest solar energy production over the next two days. Sunlight will generally be concentrated around midday.

Many appliances, from the dishwasher to the washing machine, have a delay start function. Using the information from the energy index, you can, even if you are not at home, focus part of your consumption on rare sunlight. It is also possible to equip your electric kettle with a timer and thus determine when the water will be heated. You must ensure that it remains safe, because the timer must be set according to the capacity of the boiler.

It’s a familiar phenomenon for heat pump owners: In the winter months, you have to heat more, but your solar panels produce less, which increases consumption costs. So there are many so-called Energy managerswhich activates connected appliances, such as a dishwasher, dryer, heat pump, or charging station, based on the power generated.

Would you also like to monitor your energy bill in the winter? This way you can save in every situation by controlling your consumption.

However, safety experts have a warning about using devices with delayed start. The Fire Prevention Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs FPS previously indicated that it is advisable not to leave running devices unattended. “It is better not to activate them when there is no one around to detect overheating, the appearance of smoke or fire. This applies both to devices that are manually activated by the resident himself and to devices that are automatically activated remotely,” notes the comprehensive insurance organization Assuralia. Fire insurance will intervene in the event of a fire or a short circuit occurring near the device with a delayed start.

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