At a time of rising costs, uncertainty in the energy market and pressure on sustainability, companies are looking for a reliable partner who really knows the energy sector. TT Green Life offers comprehensive solutions in photovoltaics, battery storage, energy sharing, smart energy control and energy management for buildings and plants. We spoke to Managing Director Tomáš Houserk about how working with companies works and what brings real savings today.
When customers today consider photovoltaics or energy savings, they often don’t know where to start. What does the first step in cooperation with TT Green Life look like?
It all starts with measurement. We come on site, install our professional equipment and monitor the real consumption of the building over a period of time. We measure at fifteen-minute intervals, which gives us a very detailed view of the operation. We find out not only the average consumption, but also the peaks, when and which appliances are consuming the most. We look at the differences between weekdays and weekends, between morning and evening.
In addition, we analyse historical data from distributor portals. This allows us to understand not only current but also long-term consumption behaviour. For each customer we also think about the future, whether they plan to increase production, introduce night shifts or buy new machines.
Based on this, we design a tailor-made system. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. In some places a power plant with a battery makes sense, in others without one, and sometimes it is enough to make tariff changes without investment. The goal is to reduce energy costs as much as possible “with” or “without” investment in technology.
What is the role of energy sharing between buildings? Can you give an example?
Energy sharing between buildings is one of the strongest trends for us today. In Beroun, we installed a 330 kWp photovoltaic power plant at the request of an investor to deliver the electricity generated to three hotels in the centre of Prague. We completely designed and implemented this project. The overflows were directed to three hotels in the centre of Prague by means of sharing. There, the electricity has a value corresponding to the agreed purchase price according to the given tariff. It is also worth mentioning that the panels are oriented so that their production copies the electricity consumption at a certain time according to the measured data.
The annual savings run into hundreds of thousands.
Our systems enable targeted and intelligently controlled energy use. In the specific case of hotels, we have set up the system so that the optional energy load is activated at the time when surplus electricity is available according to the selected allocation key. This makes more efficient use of the energy and at the same time confirms the correctness of the whole project.
How does it work technically?
The whole process works using an allocation key that we change according to measured and predictable data with respect to hotel occupancy. By doing so, we set what percentage of the power goes to the designated off-take point. For example, 30 percent to hotel A, 40 percent to hotel B, 20 percent to hotel C and the rest to the office. So this is not a permanent setting. Consumption varies, hotels can be full at different times. We monitor production and consumption in real time and redirect power to where it makes the most sense. It’s also worth noting that the panels are oriented to maximize their production to replicate the electricity consumption at a specific time according to the measured data. It is also worth noting that the panels are oriented to maximize their production to replicate the electricity consumption at a specific time according to the measured data. The close cooperation with the investor and the delivery of all our services play an important role here.
In this way, we achieve maximum utilisation of the energy produced. It is therefore a project focused on energy balance.
What role do batteries play?
We deploy batteries where they make economic and technical sense. For example, in operations with evening consumption or where they help to reduce peaks and reserved power. With the right configuration, significant savings can be made in the annual bill.
The battery also plays an important role in backing up against grid failure. In some cases, it makes sense to install the battery itself using spot market pricing. It purposely charges when electricity is cheapest and then supplies power when the price is high. It works in an automated way and the savings depending on traffic can be very high.
The actual production of the switchgear is unusual. How does this help you in project delivery and maintaining quality?
Huge. We are not dependent on suppliers and their slipping deadlines. When a project evolves, we can modify the enclosure immediately. We custom make them according to the layout, load, monitoring and dispatching requirements. We have 100% quality control. We not only install the switchboards, but also service them. This is one of the reasons why we offer a complete solution from a single supplier. This service has a significantly positive impact on the resulting purchase price for the installation.
What about subsidy programs?
Grant programs are an important part of many projects and we are fully prepared for them. At TT Green Life we pay maximum attention to them and monitor their development closely. We have a specialist in the company who pays detailed attention to them and helps with administration and correct setup within specific projects.
We assess each project individually and tell the client at the outset whether it makes sense to go down the subsidy route. During the initial analysis, we consider whether a given subsidy title is suitable in terms of economics and timeframe. If it is, we define exactly what documents we need from the client and take care of everything else ourselves. We prepare the application, supply all attachments, communicate with the grant providers, monitor deadlines and deal with any changes during implementation.
We do not force clients into solutions that do not make sense to them. The goal is to make the solution work in the long term and the client returns to us with confidence.
We always act fairly and transparently.
What technologies dominate your installations and why did you choose them?
Our absolute priority is to deliver technologies that are characterised by long warranties and trouble-free operation. There are many manufacturers on the market, but only a few truly stand out for their high operational safety and quick response time when dealing with problems. During the solar boom years, there were problems with technology supply and we installed 6 systems from different manufacturers. Today, we really know what technology to choose.
How do you provide service and long-term support?
We have all our plants under supervision. We monitor power, voltage, string condition, battery condition and temperature. If something is wrong, we often know before the customer. Most things are handled remotely. If a trip is necessary, we go the next day, sometimes the same day. Every customer has direct contact. No forms, no waiting. We contract for lifetime service on every installation we do, and a ten-year warranty on the work and tightness of the penetrations in the roof. We warrant the system for the same length of time as the manufacturer itself. For our most widely used brand, we have direct manufacturer support and are also the first certified installer of this technology in the country.
This is a significant “plus” for our investors.
How do you think you are different from other suppliers?
Our services cover the entire energy sector. So we are not just an implementer of photovoltaic power plants and charging stations, but we are dedicated to comprehensive energy management of buildings and plants. Investing in expensive technologies is not always the way to save money. Often a change of tariff and the selection of a suitable supplier is sufficient. We always keep within realistic figures and recommend rather short-term payback investments. The energy market is financially unpredictable and investments with a payback period of over 5 years are already on the table. We have everything under one roof. In-house measurement, design, switchgear manufacturing, implementation, monitoring, service and knowledge of the subsidy environment including project and construction management. We are not an anonymous middleman. We are a partner that is committed to the customer for the long term and will provide all turnkey energy services. Our references from domestic and foreign investors are the proof.
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