Solar as a service provider Wetility has launched an AI-enabled solution for its customers to automatically optimise their solar and battery usage to improve electricity account savings, while still sustaining supply during periods of power disruption.

Launched commercially on May 1, following more than 15 months of research, development and beta testing across 500 customers, the App-based innovation uses real-time data to make autonomous decisions designed to improve operational efficiencies.

By analysing millions of data points, including weather forecasts, historical usage patterns, and current power consumption, the software dynamically decides when to draw power from solar, and when to charge or discharge the battery, so as to reduce grid usage.

Traditional solar systems, by contrast, require manual interventions to balance energy usage, storage, and grid reliance.

Co-founder and chief product officer Ikenna Oguguo reports that, during the testing phase, some customers who transitioned to ‘AI Mode’ reported a significant rise in their daily solar usage, in some cases to over 90%, which drastically reduced their dependence on the grid.

These customers also reported big savings on their monthly electricity bill.

Developed entirely in-house by Wetility’s engineering team, the company describes AI Mode as a direct response to the complex energy challenges faced in South Africa.

Oguguo says that AI Mode’s real-time adaptability provides a crucial layer of reliability in light of recent developments where power disruptions have been announced at short notice.

“Rather than being dependent on loadshedding schedules or Eskom announcements, AI Mode instead anticipates any surprise power outage. The system then ensures batteries are sufficiently discharged or charged based on numerous possible scenarios.”

He says that the key challenge was engineering a system that could deliver savings without compromising loadshedding protection.

“Until now, users had to choose between maximising savings or backup power security.

“AI Mode eliminates this compromise and allows Wetility customers to have both at the same time,” Oguguo states.

Currently, AI Mode is available exclusively to Wetility customers.