Kaluza announced on 16 October 2024 that its software platform powers Battery Boost, a smart energy offering that lets OVO sell cheaper rates to its solar customers who have GivEnergy batteries. The company said the plan saves customers an additional £120 a year through their solar panel systems1.
Under the plan, Kaluza's platform orchestrates what it calls the intelligent top-up of solar batteries when solar generation is low. Batteries are charged at 10p per kWh during low-demand periods, which Kaluza describes as around 60% cheaper than the standard variable electricity tariff1. The service is available to customers with a GivEnergy battery who have solar PV installed by OVO1. Kaluza calls it the first solar and battery plan of its kind1.
"Empowering energy companies to innovate affordable low-carbon propositions is critical for building customer engagement in the energy transition. By leveraging home batteries when demand is high on the grid, Kaluza's software is embedding customers at the heart of the system and making green tech ownership more rewarding."
Kaluza describes itself as a B Corp-certified business with over 450 employees across seven global hubs, and says OVO is trusted by around four million customers with home energy, EV charging and green tech upgrades1. OVO's Plan Zero strategy sets out how it will become a true net zero business by 20351. GivEnergy, described in the announcement as a manufacturer of inverters and battery systems, said next-generation offerings like Battery Boost should sit at the heart of the modern low-carbon home1.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Charge rate | 10p per kWh during low-demand periods1 |
| Claimed saving | £120 a year1 |
| Comparison | Around 60% cheaper than the standard variable electricity tariff1 |
| Eligibility | GivEnergy battery plus solar PV installed by OVO1 |
Why it matters for households
The proposition rests on charging a home battery when grid demand is low and power is cheaper, then using that stored electricity later instead of buying from the grid at peak rates. That is the same principle behind time-of-use tariffs and the flexibility services that aggregate home batteries into virtual power plants. For a household, the value depends on how much of its consumption can be shifted into the cheap window, and on the battery being large enough and rated highly enough to absorb the charge in the time available; the power rating and C-rate of the unit set that limit. The £120 figure is Kaluza's own and applies to the stated eligibility group, not to home batteries generally. The announcement does not state the length of the low-demand charging window, the size of battery required, or whether the rate is fixed for a contract term; none of these has been reported.
What happens next
No start date, rollout schedule or contract terms beyond the eligibility conditions have been reported.