Time

When we use energy plays a large role in making solar energy viable.

A good solar system needs a battery to act as both a buffer and a storage solution for energy.

Let the Battery Act as a Buffer

During the day, appliances like the hot water heater after a shower or the oven while cooking can create spikes in demand. It's important to let the battery supply energy during these periods.

On the generation side, clouds can cause dips in solar output. This is another reason why having a battery to provide extra capacity is helpful.

A Store of Energy When the Sun Isn’t Available

At night, when there is no sunlight, you need the battery to supply power to the house.

Time of use settings on solar inverters

This is something you need to watch for in case someone has configured the battery to not give up it's charge - this stops the battery acting as a buffer. If the battery is not getting charged enough to last during the night it's better to look at reducing the load on the system.