How Photoncycle works: Save money with renewable energy year-round

When frost bites in winter, electricity demand is high, and prices rise. In summer, when the sun shines, the opposite is true. With Photoncycle, you can store the energy generated on sunny days for use during the cold days of winter. But how does the system actually work?

Photoncycle is an all-in-one energy system that keeps your home powered and heated by 100% renewable energy year-round.

When solar panel systems generate electricity when the sun shines, they produce more power than the household can use at that time. The systems are connected to the grid, enabling the homeowner to sell excess energy. However, because there’s often a general oversupply of electricity when private homes can sell their surplus, the price received for selling is very low or even zero. Some systems allow energy to be stored in a lithium battery to be used or sold later same day or in the coming days.

With Photoncycle, it's different. Just like other systems, your solar panels generate electricity when the sun shines, and that power can be used in your home. However, Photoncycle can store the surplus energy in solid-state hydrogen to be used to power and heat your home when the sun isn’t shining or when your electricity and heating needs are higher — both in the short term (e.g., for the coming week) and long term (e.g., solar energy from June used in January). This makes you independent from the grid or other energy sources, powering your home with 100% locally generated, renewable energy.

Unlike other systems that sell excess energy when the market is already saturated and prices are low, Photoncycle's large storage capacity allows you to automatically sell excess energy when the demand, and prices, in the market are high.

Where other systems require you to buy electricity at spot prices during periods of low production, Photoncycle enables you to use the stored energy and offers a fixed monthly cost. What is more, you do not need to pay a large upfront cost, as the system is paid through your monthly subscription, which also includes installing and servicing.

Store Energy for Winter – How Photoncycle Works

Electricity from your solar panels and water are converted into hydrogen through electrolysis. This hydrogen is then processed into a solid-state, and will be stored in an underground unit, where up to 10,000 kWh of energy can be stored — about twice the average annual electricity consumption of a family of four. This means you can use summer solar energy in the cold days of winter.

When you need power or heating during autumn and winter, the solid-state hydrogen in the Photoncycle unit is sent through a fuel cell to generate electricity and heat. A heat pump enhances the efficiency of this conversion, and the heat is used to warm your home.

Sell Power When Prices Are High

Electricity prices fluctuate constantly — by hour and by season. Prices are primarily driven by market supply and demand: electricity is expensive when it’s most needed. Prices also vary due to weather conditions and the cost of fuels used in traditional power plants.

As more of our electricity comes from renewable sources like solar and wind, production becomes less predictable, affecting prices and placing stress on the grid. A constant balance between electricity supply and demand is needed to keep the grid stable.

The energy you store in your Photoncycle unit can be sold in the winter, when demand is high, production is low, and prices peak. This helps to balance the electricity grid.

The system is remotely controlled, so electricity is sold automatically — no action is needed from you. Given that Photoncycle can store up to 10,000 kWh, and a family of four, without electric heating or EVs, typically uses 4,500 kWh per year, there should be enough electricity for your needs,even after selling your surplus. If your stored energy is used up or sold, you can still draw power from the grid. You can even buy electricity from the grid, when prices are extremely low or negative and store it for later use.

What’s Included in a Photoncycle System?

Solar Panels
Three solar options are available:

• Solar roof tiles: Replace your existing roof with tiles from Swiss supplier Megasol
• Traditional panels: Installed on your current roof
• Your own panels: If they meet production capacity requirements
  

Energy Processing Unit
Installed outside, this converts electricity into hydrogen that is processed into a solid-state for stable, compact storage.

Underground Storage Unit
A 3 m³ underground storage tank, safely stores your energy efficiently.

Mobile App
Track your system status, home consumption, and stored energy in real-time.

How Do I Get Photoncycle?

The system can be installed in about a day, and installation costs are included in your monthly fee. If your home already has a water-based heating system, no internal retrofitting is needed.

A Photoncycle Subscription

With Photoncycle, you pay a fixed monthly fee that includes both electricity and heating. It also covers installation, and maintenance. The system is remotely monitored, so no need to arrange service calls — we take care of everything. Since it’s installed outside, you don’t even need to be home for servicing.

When you sell surplus energy, you can earn up to DKK 1,150 per month, which is deducted from your subscription.

Calculate your savings on electricity and heating with our savings calculator:

How Photoncycle Works

In Summer:
The electricity produced by the rooftop solar panels flows through a converter, making it usable in the home. Any surplus electricity can either be stored for winter or sold to the electricity grid.

If it is to be stored, the electricity is used to produce hydrogen from water. In the Photoncycle system, the hydrogen is processed so it can be stored in solid form.

In the underground Photoncycle unit, the energy is stored so it can be used later in the year.

In Winter:
When the need for heat and electricity exceeds the production from the solar panels, the hydrogen is released from storage and processed into a gas. Only a small amount of hydrogen is in gas form at any one time.

The hydrogen is then converted into water and electricity. The released electricity can be used to heat your home and supply it with power. It can also be sold to the electricity grid.