A solar photovoltaic (PV) water heating system includes a tank including at least a first heating unit having at least first and second heating elements, at least one of which is switchable; a PV solar collector; an inverter adapted to convert the output from the PV collector to an alternating power supply; a modulator to modulate the alternating power supply from the inverter; a controller adapted to control the modulator and the switching of the or each switchable heating element; wherein the controller is adapted to control the modulator and the switchable heating elements to maximize the energy drawn from the PV collector.

A controller for an electric booster element in a water heater is described. The electric booster element is powered from mains power and the controller comprises a control module and a capacitive module adapted to store power and supply stored power to the control module. The control module produces a control signal for controlling a relay to supply or restrict mains power supply to said booster element, said control signal depending at least in part on time of use data.

There is provided a hot water supply system including: a controllable hot water supply outlet having when fully opened a given flowrate; a thermal energy store, containing an energy storage medium comprising a phase change material to store energy as latent heat, that is configured to receive energy from a source of renewable energy; a renewable energy source; the hot water supply system being operable, under the control of the processor, to heat water that is to be supplied to the hot water outlet to a target system supply temperature using a selection of one or more of the renewable energy source, energy from the thermal energy store, and optionally an auxiliary water heater intermediate the thermal energy store and the hot water supply outlet; wherein the thermal energy store has an energy storage capacity, when fully charged, that is sufficient to provide hot water to the hot water outlet, at the given flowrate, and at the target system supply temperature for a period of at least 8 minutes, and preferably at least 10 minutes; wherein the renewable energy source is also configured to provide building heating under control of the processor; the processor being configured to: monitor actual demand for hot water from the hot water supply system; predict future demand for hot water from the hot water supply system based on the monitored actual demand; pre-charge the thermal energy store so that sufficient energy will be stored in the thermal energy store to satisfy the predicted demand; and to temporarily divert heat from the renewable energy source to charge the phase change material rather than to provide building heating. A corresponding method is also provided.

There is provided a hot water supply system including: a controllable hot water supply outlet having when fully opened a given flowrate; a thermal energy store, containing an energy storage medium comprising a phase change material to store energy as latent heat, that is configured to receive energy from a source of renewable energy; a renewable energy source; the hot water supply system being operable, under the control of the processor, to heat water that is to be supplied to the hot water outlet to a target system supply temperature using a selection of one or more of the renewable energy source, energy from the thermal energy store, and optionally an auxiliary water heater intermediate the thermal energy store and the hot water supply outlet; wherein the thermal energy store has an energy storage capacity, when fully charged, that is sufficient to provide hot water to the hot water outlet, at the given flowrate, and at the target system supply temperature for a period of at least 8 minutes, and preferably at least 10 minutes; wherein the renewable energy source is also configured to provide building heating under control of the processor; the processor being configured to: monitor actual demand for hot water from the hot water supply system; predict future demand for hot water from the hot water supply system based on the monitored actual demand; pre-charge the thermal energy store so that sufficient energy will be stored in the thermal energy store to satisfy the predicted demand; and to temporarily divert heat from the renewable energy source to charge the phase change material rather than to provide building heating. A corresponding method is also provided.

The present disclosure relates to modulating energy consumption by a water provision system installed in a building, including one or more electrical heating elements operable to heat water, a heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy from outside the building to a thermal energy storage medium inside the building and a control module configured to control operation of the water provision system, the water provision system being configured to provide water heated by the one or more electrical heating elements and/or the thermal energy storage medium to one or more water outlets, This can include: determining a level of energy demands of a geographical region comprising the building; and upon determining that the level of energy demands is high, controlling the water provision system to switch from using the one or more electrical heating elements to the thermal energy storage medium for provision of heated water.

An electrical power distribution control system configured to issue a demand response signal to cut power to a plurality of electrical power consuming loads within an electrical power distribution network to reduce a peak power demand within an electrical power grid during a peak power demand. Unlike conventional demand response systems, the controller in each consumer residence includes both a distributed control based on the ability to track individual 24 hour usage patterns and selectively delay the demand response signal on individual resistive heating loads based on usage patterns for the purpose of reducing a likelihood of consumers experiencing effects of the reduced peak power demand.

An electrical power distribution control system configured to issue a demand response signal to cut power to a plurality of electrical power consuming loads within an electrical power distribution network to reduce a peak power demand within an electrical power grid during a peak power demand. Unlike conventional demand response systems, the controller in each consumer residence includes both a distributed control based on the ability to track individual 24 hour usage patterns and selectively delay the demand response signal on individual resistive heating loads based on usage patterns for the purpose of reducing a likelihood of consumers experiencing effects of the reduced peak power demand.

A computer-implemented method predictively prepares a water provision system installed in a building. The water provision system includes a heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy from the surrounding to a thermal energy storage medium and a control module configured to control operation of the heat pump. The water provision system is configured to provide water heated by the thermal energy storage medium to an occupant of the building at one or more water outlets. The method is performed by the control module and includes: receiving a current location of the occupant, estimating an expected arrival time for the occupant to arrive at the building based on the current location, and determining an expected occupancy of the building based on the expected arrival time.

A solar photovoltaic (PV) water heating system includes a tank including at least a first heating unit having at least first and second heating elements, at least one of which is switchable; a PV solar collector; an inverter adapted to convert the output from the PV collector to an alternating power supply; a modulator to modulate the alternating power supply from the inverter; a controller adapted to control the modulator and the switching of the or each switchable heating element; wherein the controller is adapted to control the modulator and the switchable heating elements to maximize the energy drawn from the PV collector.

The present disclosure relates to modulating energy consumption by a water provision system installed in a building, including one or more electrical heating elements operable to heat water, a heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy from outside the building to a thermal energy storage medium inside the building and a control module configured to control operation of the water provision system, the water provision system being configured to provide water heated by the one or more electrical heating elements and/or the thermal energy storage medium to one or more water outlets, This can include: determining a level of energy demands of a geographical region comprising the building; and upon determining that the level of energy demands is high, controlling the water provision system to switch from using the one or more electrical heating elements to the thermal energy storage medium for provision of heated water.