Charging your car with solar energy

Laadpaal met zonne-integratie geïnstalleerd bij een woning met zonnepanelen

If you have solar panels and an electric car, it can be smart to charge your EV with your own solar energy. Instead of feeding excess power back into the grid, a charging station with solar integration directs more of that power to your car.

For homeowners in the Netherlands, this is becoming increasingly relevant. The Dutch net metering scheme will cease on January 1, 2027. This means that you will no longer be able to offset fed-back solar power against power you draw later in the same way. As a result, self-consumption will become more important for households with solar panels.

A charging station with solar integration helps you use more of your own power, become less dependent on the grid, and make your home charging setup more future-proof.

How does a charging station work with solar panels?

A charging station with solar integration connects to your smart meter and inverter to monitor power flow in real time. It detects how much power your solar panels are generating and how much your household is consuming at that moment, then calculates the available surplus.

That surplus is sent to your car instead of being fed back into the grid. If cloud cover or household consumption changes during the day, the charging station constantly adjusts the charging power up or down to match the available solar energy.

The goal is not always to charge 100% with solar energy. For most households, it is more practical to maximize self-consumption of solar power while ensuring the car charges reliably – even on cloudy days or if you need a quick top-up.

Is solar charging worth it?

Yes, solar charging is worth it, especially if:

  • you already have solar panels

  • your car is often at home during the day

  • you want to use more of your own solar power

  • you want to be less dependent on the grid

  • you are preparing for changes in net metering in the Netherlands

  • you might add a home battery later

It might be less useful if your car is almost never home during daylight hours. In that case, a home battery might be necessary to store solar energy for evening charging.

Three solar charging modes you should know

Charging stations with solar integration often work with different charging modes or settings. The names vary by brand, but the principle is usually the same.

1. Solar-only charging

In this mode, the charging station prioritizes solar energy as much as possible. This is useful if you want to maximize your self-consumption and your car is at home during daylight hours.

The downside is that charging can be slower or pause if solar production drops.

2. Mixed charging with solar and grid power

This mode combines solar power with power from the grid. This is more practical if your car needs to be charged by a certain time, but you still want to utilize available solar energy.

For many homeowners, this is the most convenient option for daily use.

3. Scheduled charging

With scheduled charging, you decide when charging happens. This is useful if you want to charge during the day, during cheaper electricity periods, or at night if needed.

A smart charging station gives you more flexibility than a basic charger, as you can tailor charging to your car, your home, and your energy tariff.

When solar charging works best

Solar charging works best when your solar production and the time your car is at home overlap.

Situation Potential for solar charging
Car is at home during the day High
Car mainly used in the evenings or on weekends Medium to high
Car away during working hours Lower without a home battery
Large solar panel system Higher potential
Small solar panel system Useful, but may require grid power
Dynamic energy contract Can be useful with smart scheduling
Home battery installed More flexibility for evening charging

The more often your car is available while your panels are generating power, the more valuable solar charging becomes.

Electric car charging at home with solar energy

What if your car isn't home during the day?

This is one of the most common challenges with solar charging. Many homeowners generate most of their solar energy during the day, while their car is at work.

However, there are a few ways to still make solar charging useful:

  • schedule charging during the day on work-from-home days

  • use a home battery to store solar energy for later

  • choose a smart charging station that can automatically adjust charging

  • combine solar charging with cheaper grid power when needed

If your car is usually away during peak solar hours, a charging station with solar integration can still be useful, but the biggest benefits come from combining it with a home battery.

Why solar charging will become more important after 2027

Currently, many Dutch solar panel owners still benefit from the net metering scheme. This makes it easier to offset fed-back electricity against electricity used later.

Starting January 1, 2027, the net metering scheme will cease. After that, solar panel owners will no longer be able to offset their fed-back solar power in the same way. They will still receive compensation for electricity they feed back into the grid, but the financial value of self-consumption will become more important.

This means that homeowners can benefit more from directly using their own solar energy – for example, by charging an EV, running appliances during daylight hours, or storing excess solar energy in a home battery.

What features should a solar-integrated charging station have?

If you want to charge your EV with solar panels, choose a charging station with the right smart features.

Useful features include:

  • support for solar charging

  • app control

  • charging schedules

  • dynamic load balancing

  • monitoring your energy consumption

  • suitability for single-phase or three-phase charging

  • connection with a home battery

  • clear reporting of charging sessions

  • integration with your broader home energy system

A basic charger will also charge your car, but it might not help you optimize your solar energy. For homeowners with solar panels, a smarter charging station is usually the better long-term choice.

Which solar charging setup is best depends on your car, your grid connection, your solar panels, and your future energy plans. Visit Slimmelaadpunt to view smart charging solutions for various homes.

Charging station with solar integration or home battery: what comes first?

If you already have an EV and solar panels, a charging station with solar integration is often the first step. This allows you to use solar energy directly when your car is at home.

A home battery only truly becomes useful if your solar production and charging schedule don't align. For example, if you generate most of your solar power during the day but charge your car in the evening, a battery can store that energy for later.

If you want to Start with
Charge your EV during daylight hours A charging station with solar integration
Store daytime solar energy for the evening A home battery
Be less dependent on the grid Charging station + battery
Prepare for solar changes in 2027 A smart charging station and possibly a battery
Manage your entire home energy system Integrated charging station, battery, and solar setup

For many households, the best long-term solution is not found in a single product alone. It's a setup where your solar panels, charging station, and possibly a home battery work together.

Home battery and charging station for solar energy storage

Which charging station brands are good for solar charging?

Several brands of charging stations sold by Slimmelaadpunt fit into a setup focused on solar energy. The best one depends on your budget, your installation, your preferred app, and how advanced your energy system needs to be.

  • Zappi is especially relevant for solar charging, as it is designed around using your own generated power.

  • Peblar can be a strong option for homeowners looking for modern smart charging features and good value for money.

  • Easee suits homeowners who want a compact, user-friendly smart charging station.

  • Zaptec is worth considering if you want a premium smart charging setup with advanced functionality.

  • Enphase can be relevant for homes planning a broader energy system with solar and battery.

The right choice depends on whether you simply want to charge with solar energy when it's available, or if you want to build a more advanced home energy system over time. View the smart charging stations to compare charging stations with app control, solar suitability, load balancing, and energy monitoring.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid these mistakes when choosing a charging station for your solar panels:

  • buying a basic charger that cannot optimize your solar energy

  • assuming solar charging works well if the car is never home during the day

  • ignoring load balancing

  • not considering future plans for a home battery

  • choosing a charging station without a good app or monitoring

  • not checking if your electrical installation can handle the charging station

  • only looking at the price of the charging station instead of long-term energy savings

A slightly more advanced charging station is often the better choice if it helps you use more of your own solar power.

Conclusion

A charging station with solar panels helps homeowners use more of their own power, become less dependent on the grid, and prepare for the end of the net metering scheme in the Netherlands.

The setup works best when your car is at home during daylight hours, but even if it's not, smart charging and home battery storage can make your solar energy more useful.

For most households with solar panels, the best choice is a smart charging station with solar integration, app control, load balancing, and suitability for a future home battery. Slimmelaadpunt offers charging stations with solar integration, smart charging points, home batteries, and installation options to help homeowners build a more efficient home charging setup.