Do solar panels make sense if I have an electric car?

Yes – in fact, solar panels and an electric car are one of the best combinations you can make. Your electric car represents a large and flexible electricity consumption that you can control yourself. By charging the car during the daytime when the sun is shining, you significantly increase your self-consumption – and that is key to good economy in a solar panel system. An average 10 kWp solar panel system can produce approx. 10,000–12,000 kWh/year. If you have an electric car with an annual consumption of 2,000–3,000 kWh for charging, you can "absorb" a large part of the solar-produced electricity yourself. This means you get far more value out of the system – and achieve a payback period of 5–6 years in many cases. With EcoRay’s advice, you can size your system to match the needs of both your house and your car – without oversizing.

Can I charge my electric car with electricity from solar panels at night?

Not directly – but with a battery, you can store the day's surplus production and use it in the evening or at night to charge your car. EcoRay helps you assess whether a battery makes sense for your situation. If you have regular nighttime charging (e.g., due to lower tariffs), we can size a system where the battery covers a large part of it.

What if I have both an electric car and a heat pump – can solar panels cover it all?

Yes, in many cases. But it requires careful planning and sizing, which EcoRay helps with. An average Danish household uses approx.: 2,000–3,000 kWh for an electric car 3,000–5,000 kWh for a heat pump (depending on the house's insulation and size) Combined, this can result in an annual electricity consumption of 10,000–15,000 kWh. Here, a 12–15 kWp solar panel system could cover large parts of the consumption – especially if you have a battery to smooth out the day/night difference. Our calculations typically show total savings of DKK 12,000–18,000/year with this setup. This corresponds to a payback period of approx. 6 years.

Can I size my system larger than my current consumption if I plan to get an electric car later?

Yes, and it is often a good idea – but it must be done thoughtfully. EcoRay advises precisely on future-proofing, so you don't have to expand later. If you know you will get an electric car within 1–2 years, we can take that into account in the system choice now. This means we can recommend: An inverter that can handle more capacity A solar panel system that produces a little more than you need right now Possibly prepare space for a battery later This way, you get a solution that is both economically sensible now and flexible in the future – without unnecessary additional costs.

Can I use solar panels to cover my consumption from an air-to-water heat pump?

Yes, and it makes very good sense. Air-to-water heat pumps typically use 3,000–5,000 kWh/year, and this consumption is primarily in the winter half-year. Although solar production is lower in the winter months, a combination with a battery will still be able to cover a large part – and especially in the transitional months (March–May and September–October) you can be close to self-sufficiency. Our analyses show that customers with a heat pump typically achieve total electricity savings of DKK 8,000–14,000/year depending on the size of the house and the system's configuration. This corresponds to a typical payback period of 6–7 years.