Imagine being able to send electricity from your rooftop solar panels directly to your washing machine.
That’s exactly what LightwaveRF Smart Home platform users will be able to do soon, thanks to an exciting partnership between the UK-based Internet of Things developer and the Australia arm of renewable energy innovator Power Diverter.
The two firms have signed a licence agreement which will culminate in solar panel users being able to divert surplus energy directly to appliances via the LightwaveRF app.
LightwaveRF’s Smart Home platform enables users to control energy, lighting and heating whilst at home or away via a single smartphone app.
Under the agreement with Power Diverter, the app will be able to channel excess energy from solar panels to any LightwaveRF-controlled appliance, such as a washing machine, dishwasher or water heater.
Up to now, renewable energy users can but stand by whilst surplus energy is fed back into the electricity grid.
Power Diverter’s Australian distributor, Apricus, will begin selling associated LightwaveRF products with the Power Diverter unit in summer 2016.
A first order for an initially limited range of LightwaveRF products of USD 250,000 (£175,000) has been placed which brings the company’s current order book to over $1.7m (£1.2m).
Mike Lord, CEO of LightwaveRF, said: “The partnership with Power Diverter is immensely exciting and opens up a whole new world of energy control for smart home owners. It’s also a fantastic demonstration of how smart technology is helping to increase energy efficiency at a time when action is needed to increase renewable electricity sources and reduce our carbon footprint.”
He added: “We’re absolutely delighted to be working with Power Diverter and developing our presence in the Australian market.”
Daniel Lawes, Power Diverter’s managing director, added: “We have been very impressed with the reliability and ease of use of LightwaveRF technology compared with other possible technology partners.
“There are over 600,000 Solar PV installations in the UK and 1,000,000 in Australia for which the Power Diverter/LightwaveRF product combination is very compelling.”
