FlexiO integrates curtailment

Negative injection rates? No worries: FlexiO integrates curtailment

Recently, there has been a lot of buzz in the media about negative injection rates. But why are these being introduced? Specifically, what does this mean for your solar panels and energy bills? Do you really have to start paying to inject power into the grid? And can you avoid this? 

To address this inevitable trend, we’ve integrated curtailment into FlexiO.‍

Why negative prices?

We are in the midst of the energy transition, expanding the production of solar and wind energy to make our society more sustainable. This is a necessary evolution, but also brings challenges. At times when there is an abundance of renewable energy - for example, on sunny or windy days - the power grid can become overloaded. This creates instability, with consequences for both individuals and businesses. Appliances can fail or be damaged, and industrial plants can shut down automatically.

Electricity injected into the grid during these moments is considered surplus and must be dealt with — much like waste management — which comes at a cost. To limit these costs and maintain or restore grid balance, negative injection prices are introduced. This system encourages solar panel owners to consume their self-generated energy locally, rather than feeding it back into the grid. At the same time, it motivates consumers to increase their electricity usage during these moments, helping the grid absorb the surplus more efficiently.

Currently, consumers with fixed or variable contracts cannot yet benefit from negative consumption prices, but they can be charged for injecting electricity into the grid — especially during summer. For users with a dynamic energy contract, negative prices apply to both consumption and injection. This allows them to optimize their energy usage and take full advantage of market price fluctuations.

Learn more about different energy rates.

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What is curtailment?

Curtailment literally means "switching off" or "slowing down. In the context of solar panels and home batteries, it means that you temporarily stop injecting electricity into the grid as soon as prices turn negative. Instead, you only use or store the energy yourself. This prevents you from having to pay to get rid of excess green power.

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The perfect combination: FlexiO & a dynamic rate

With a dynamic energy contract, electricity prices fluctuate hourly based on supply and demand. That may sound unpredictable, but when managed intelligently with FlexiO , it can actually become a financial advantage. 

• When injection prices are positive: Once your home battery is fully charged, FlexiO continues to inject any surplus energy into the grid — and you receive a compensation for it.
• When injection prices turn negative: FlexiO starts charging your battery with green energy that currently holds no market value. If the battery is already full and prices remain negative, FlexiO automatically activates curtailment. Your solar panels will keep producing, but only enough to meet your home’s energy needs. This prevents unnecessary costs, while making sure no energy is wasted.

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Green power certificates? FlexiO takes those into account.

For installation with green power certificates, FlexiO will only apply curtailment if the cost of injecting solar to the grid, is higher than the value of the certificate for that specific system.
If curtailment is activated on your FlexiO device (= you have a dynamic tariff and a compatible inverter) , then LIFEPOWR will send you an email to notify you about the activation of curtailment. Because we don’t know if you have green power certificates, we kindly ask you to fill in a form with the details of your green power certificates.
This way, FlexiO once again offers added value tailored to the customer!
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Real-life example: March 9, 2025

On 09/03/2025, for the FlexiO user below, the price was negative between 11am to 3pm. Follow along for the day:

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1. One day ahead 
FlexiO analyses electricity prices and weather forecasts in advance.The forecast predicts strong solar production, and FlexiO calculates that the battery will charge fully. As long as prices are positive, surplus solar energy is injected into the grid, generating a return.

2. Price drop
At a certain point, the injection price drops below zero. From that moment, injecting would result in a cost. FlexiO instantly switches strategy: it charges the battery and stops injecting into the grid.

3. Battery full, prices still negative
FlexiO analyses electricity prices and weather forecasts in advance.The forecast predicts strong solar production, and FlexiO calculates that the battery will charge fully. As long as prices are positive, surplus solar energy is injected into the grid, generating a return.

‍4.New consumption need
At 13:30, the resident returns home and connects their electric vehicle to the charging station. FlexiO detects this new demand and reactivates solar production, ensuring the generated power is used efficiently to charge the EV and power the home

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Why this is the future?

• Maximum return: You make the most of both high and low electricity prices — without energy loss or financial waste.
• No unexpected costs: You never have to pay to inject electricity into the grid.
• Smart use of renewable energyYou consume your self-generated power at times when it’s both financially and ecologically the most beneficial.
• Negative prices are becoming increasingly commonIn 2022, there were 118 hours with negative electricity prices. In 2023, that number rose to 253 hours. And in 2024, we saw no less than 458 hours. The trend is clear. We need to protect our users from these growing risks — while also contributing to a more balanced grid.

FlexiO takes care of everything behind the scenes. As a user, you can focus on the things that really matter to you — without having to worry about the technical management of your installation.

Below is a list of the hybrid inverters that are currently compatible. Behind the scenes, LIFEPOWR is working hard to make all inverters that Flexio controls compatible as soon as possible. Want to stay up to date on new integrations? Subscribe to our newsletter and be the first to be notified. 

List of inverters and their compatibility.

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