Heat transition at a winery in South Tyrol

How was the way to my-PV?

Through the South Tyrolean company Sun Tech, the owners became aware of the AC•THOR from my-PV. This photovoltaic power manager, which regulates power output continuously from 0 to 3 kW, is designed for domestic hot water, electric heat sources, and optionally for space heating. It controls electric heating elements based on the availability of PV energy and the actual heat demand – making it perfectly suited to the winery’s specific requirements.

The PV system was installed across multiple roof surfaces to make optimal use of east-, west-, and south-facing orientations. To maximize efficiency, power optimizers from Huawei were also integrated. The surplus electricity is now intelligently used by the AC•THOR to heat domestic hot water for the winery’s facilities. Thanks to the open-system architecture of my-PV solutions, the device was seamlessly integrated into the existing infrastructure. The existing battery storage and inverter from Huawei – one of over 80 my-PV compatibility partners – work smoothly with the AC•THOR. Using Modbus TCP, the system receives all relevant surplus data and automatically starts heat generation once the battery storage is fully charged.

A key advantage in this project was the simplicity of communication between the AC•THOR and the inverter, which only required a network connection. Since the hot water tank and the PV system are located in different buildings, this network solution eliminated the need for complex and costly wiring – an undeniable plus for the overall implementation.

Were there any obstacles during installation?

The installation of the my-PV device proceeded without any technical issues. The only additional effort involved was the extensive documentation required for participation in the Italian Agrisolar grant program. However, this effort paid off: 80% of the total investment was covered by government funding, allowing the system – including battery storage – to pay for itself within just two years.

How high is the domestic hot water demand in the home?

A total of five people are permanently employed at the winery, all of whom regularly use the on-site shower facilities. In addition, there is a continuous demand for hot water in the wine cellar and the outdoor areas. Daily consumption ranges between 150 and 190 liters, with a significant increase during the grape harvest in autumn. During this period, the higher hot water demand coincides with particularly strong PV yields – typical for the sun-rich climate of South Tyrol’s lowlands. The surplus energy produced during these peak months is used efficiently and directly for water heating.

Initial Assessment and Outlook

The exact energy savings will continue to be monitored during ongoing operation. However, an initial estimate already shows a reduction in energy consumption for hot water by around 40% – despite the rather small 200-liter storage tank.

The owners are convinced:
“In the South Tyrolean lowlands, we have many hours of sunshine in summer. At the same time, our hot water demand increases significantly as autumn approaches. With my-PV, we can now use this energy efficiently – it was the most obvious solution.”

And the long-term goal is also clear:
“I’m a big fan of photovoltaics. With the hot water system, we’ve taken the first step. Next, we want to convert our kitchen to electric and later add a heat pump. Our goal is a sustainable operation – from growing the grapes to processing them and everything that goes along with it.”