Plentify
TRANSFORMING WATER HEATERS INTO INTELLIGENT BATTERIES
This project piloted an innovative technology that transforms household water heaters into intelligent thermal batteries for smart, clean energy. Electric water heaters in South Africa waste half the energy they consume and drive up demand at peak times when solar is not an option. This contributes to South Africa’s erratic, polluting and costly energy. Plentify’s HotBots are smart devices that turn heaters on only when needed and at optimal times for the electric grid. This shift in energy consumption improves efficiency and boosts solar capacity for municipalities. EEP Africa financing enabled Plentify to expand its pilot project in Cape Town and demonstrated the environmental impact and economic value of the new technology.
Outcome and Impact
The project deployed HotBots into 500 homes in the City of Cape Town. Every HotBot saves 1 MWh in energy and 1 tonne in CO2e emissions per year. This project brought together private and public partners, including the City of Cape Town and GIZ, to improve energy reliability and efficiency in South Africa. This accelerated the adoption of renewable energy and reduced the cost of electricity and hot water for households and businesses.