Hi all,
We got our AIO2 installed in few weeks ago, very happy with it. However, when i try to get the GivBack app to take part in grid services Google Play tells me that it is not available in my country. My Google Play region is UK. This is not a device compatibility message but a country one. I emailed Givenergy last week but no reply. Can anyone shed any light on this, maybe check with their device please?
Thanks 🙂
madbilly Givback was provided by Axle energy to GivEnergy for the first year or so. I believe GivEnergy are now using a new provider and the relationship with Axle has ceased, this may be why Givback isn’t available to download. Unfortunately only Givenergy can comment on what the state of Givback is.
Bear in mind that even if you get through this you may not be able to sign up to Givback if you are on any of the Octopus Intelligent tariffs as their terms and conditions preclude signing up to any other Demand Flexibility Service (DFS) service.
madbilly You can sign up directly to axle energy. Apologies as this is cheeky but if you use my refer link we both get £25 https://vpp.axle.energy/landing/grid?ref=R-DAXHPBCD You can sign up direct without the link. But I can confirm the grid events work, £1 per kw exported
Hi both,
Thanks for the info. Seems odd that the app/dashboard contains a link to an app which can't be installed. I'm interested to know if anyone sees that the same as me or whether it's just my phone/account for some strange reason.
Thank you for the referral link @THALL, I'll try and understand what the relationship is with GivEnergy before signingup.
Cheers 🙂
madbilly The dashboard one was part of GE spamming Axle to GE owners a couple of years ago. I'd be surprised if it works now.
Axle used to be the DFS provider for GivEnergy but based on what others are saying that relationship no longer exists and GE use another DFS provider.
There is no reason why you cannot register with another provider as long as your meter isn't enrolled with two at once. Worst case you have to set up and manage sessions manually (or ask Home Assistant to do it for you).
Edit, I read the website and answered my questions, should have done that before posting.
How does Axle Energy work, do they control the battery directly or do I just set the battery to discharge when they ask me to? Directly.
Do I have any control over the battery, like setting the maximum discharge? Yes in Events only mode I think I would have more control.
Do Axle only do the demand flexibility service or also other grid services, or maybe it's all hidden from the end customer? I think they do all services, but for the end user they just call them all "events".
It seems like Events-only mode is where I would start, the only real downside of that I can see is having to manually charge the batteries up before the event to maximise earnings.
madbilly Answering your questions
Axle control the inverter directly but if you are in event only mode you can also command it to discharge in the Axle period. Sometimes the Axle commands have been late so this gives a failsafe. You get paid for what you exported in the session period regardless of who initiated it.
No you have no control over the battery, its a max rate discharge. Axle will change the settings if you override them.
Be aware you can't join Axle if you are joined in Octopus saving sessions or on IOF or IOG.
Yes you do need the battery to be charged before the session for maximum profit. Depends how big your battery is of course as to whether this is already happened during the day with solar
Thanks @geoffreycoan. I wondered if it's possible to set a floor for the battery charge level, e.g. don't go below 20%, so I can always keep some in case of power cut. I'll sign up and find out!
madbilly no problem. You can’t set a floor limit unfortunately as far as I am aware, so yes, if there is a power cut you might be cut short.
Equally be aware that with the force export draining your battery its very likely you’ll run out of power anyway in the evening and have to import from the grid anyway.
But at the moment with Axle paying £1/kWh, any grid import you have to make will be at a much lower rate so you’ll still gain financially.
If anyone wants to use my referral code, it’s https://vpp.axle.energy/landing/grid?ref=R-VNNIZUYO we both get £25 for signup and at the moment you get a £10 minimum payout each month
Just going to report that out of three events only one has worked properly, but nevertheless it's still kind-of-free money. I asked Axle what they'll do considering GivEnergy going into administration and they didn't have an answer yet.
madbilly I asked Axle what they'll do considering GivEnergy going into administration and they didn't have an answer yet.
DD Thanks, I presume they didn't tell me about HA etc options because I didn't ask for details like that. Useful to know.
madbilly They describe it as HA integration, but it's really not - just a URL you can poll to find out when the next event is. I just have a python script that fetches and parses it.
Today's event worked properly. The AIO2 is fab at this, got over £10 this morning! 🙂
I have recently joined Axle and have had two events in the last two weeks. I have made sure the battery is fully charged before the event and have an AIO so with its max discharge rate of 6kw that leaves me over half the battery to get me through to the next cheapest agile periods, which so far have only been a couple of hours later this time round. I have asked axle what the situation is with their use of the API with GivEnergy going bust and they have told me that if it is not available, for instance if I decide not to pay, I can schedule the export myself as once you are registered they take the export reading directly from your smart meter anyway. Now, what to do about WonderWatt?
Hudson123 is it (now) regional? I've not seen anything recently.
DD Axle has always been regional as its providing extra energy to parts of the country where there is a supply shortage. They have also done some tests with just specific inverter types.
The last event I didn’t get invited to
Hudson123 you would need the Premium subscription to continue with WonderWatt.
I’ve heard the same (second hand) from Axle as well, if you do the export manually they’ll still pay you and don’t need API access via GivEnergy