Valuing photovoltaic surplus: a new energy opportunity
After the massive wave of photovoltaic installations, the energy transition is entering an optimization phase. Emilien Feron, CEO of Soliseco, proposes an ingenious solution to maximize self-consumption: transforming excess electricity into thermal energy. An approach that is both economical and ecological.
Emilien Feron
CEO
Soliseco
For years, the main goal was to cover rooftops with solar panels. Today, faced with network saturation and the emergence of sometimes negative feed-in tariffs – where the producer has to pay to send their electricity to the grid – the priority has changed. "The second phase of the transition is to self-consume as much as possible," emphasizes Emilien Feron. "To this end, our solution aims to transform photovoltaic surplus into hot water and heat."
The principle is easy to understand: as soon as a home starts sending energy back to the grid, the Soliseco system captures this surplus to supply the heating system or the production of domestic hot water. Universal, the device adapts to any existing boiler, whether it runs on gas or oil.
To this end, our hybrid solution aims to control the production of hot water and heat from photovoltaic surplus.
Thermal storage, a cost-effective alternative to batteries
While electrochemical batteries are often highlighted, Emilien Feron advocates for a more pragmatic and accessible vision: "The kilowatt-hour of thermal storage costs 3 to 10 times less than the kilowatt-hour stored in a conventional battery. For a household, the savings are concrete: between 2 and 6 liters of heating oil saved per day." Over the year, the CEO confides that he himself has reduced his gas consumption by 60%, allowing him to turn off the boiler for 6 to 8 months a year.
This solution is aimed at individuals, SMEs, and communities, with a major economic stake: the processes of companies are often heat-intensive. "By avoiding loss injection and reducing dependence on fossil fuels, the return on investment is quick."
Based in Wavre, Soliseco relies on a strong local anchoring; the system is entirely produced in Wallonia. Since its launch in 2022, the company has experienced rapid growth, with already more than 100 systems in operation and active development towards Luxembourg and the Netherlands. "We must remain pragmatic and decarbonize in stages," concludes Emilien Feron. A philosophy that appeals to a market in search of simple, universal, and affordable solutions.