PV for what? A PV self-sufficiency analysis of electric vehicles, heat pumps, and home storage

Consumers are key actors for the energy transition since they adopt technologies which impact the instantaneous balance between electricity supply and demand. Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels adopters are interested in achieving energy self-sufficiency through increasing PV self-consumption with batteries and flexible demand, for example of electric vehicles and heat pumps. However, a comparative analysis of the potential of these technologies to increase self-sufficiency is lacking. This paper models the impact of combinations of these technologies on PV self-sufficiency. We find large variations in self-sufficiency, ranging from 10 % to 90 % depending on technology combination and demand patterns. Moreover, we explore the trade-off between low demand, which increases self-sufficiency, and low flexibility, a potential consequence of having less demand to shift in absolute terms, by investigating the impact of different use profiles for electricity, heating, and mobility demand. The results show distinct patterns for heating and mobility demand: To maximize self-sufficiency, heating demand should be minimized whereas moderate use of electric vehicles yields the highest self-sufficiency levels. The largest impact can be made by installing a residential battery. However, the monetary value of this increased self-sufficiency is only moderate compared to what can be achieved with an electric vehicle.