
How do dynamic energy tariffs work and how can you earn more with a home battery? Explanation, suppliers, calculations and tips.
With a traditional energy contract, you pay a fixed price per kWh, for example EUR 0.25. With a dynamic contract, the price varies per hour (or per quarter hour) based on the actual market price on the EPEX spot market.
Electricity prices on the EPEX spot market vary significantly:
| Time | Typical price (incl. VAT, excl. grid fees) | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Night (02:00-06:00) | EUR 0.03-0.10 | Low consumption, wind generation |
| Morning (07:00-09:00) | EUR 0.15-0.30 | Peak consumption, everyone wakes up |
| Daytime (10:00-16:00) | EUR 0.00-0.15 | Lots of solar energy, sometimes negative prices |
| Evening peak (17:00-21:00) | EUR 0.20-0.40 | Cooking, TV, heating, little sun |
| Night (22:00-02:00) | EUR 0.05-0.12 | Consumption decreases |
On sunny days in spring and summer, electricity prices can even go negative during the day — you actually get paid to consume electricity. On cold winter evenings, prices can rise to EUR 0.50 or more.
The strategy is simple: buy low, use high.
Modern home batteries like the Zendure SolarFlow and Anker SOLIX connect to the EPEX spot market via their app. The system automatically plans when to charge and discharge, based on the expected prices for the next 24 hours.
Assumptions: 10 kWh usable battery capacity, one full cycle daily (realistic in combination with solar panels), average price difference between cheapest and most expensive hour: EUR 0.15/kWh.
| Calculation | Value |
|---|---|
| Daily saving | 10 kWh x EUR 0.15 = EUR 1.50 |
| Monthly saving | EUR 45 |
| Annual saving from dynamic tariffs | EUR 540 |
In practice, this varies. In winter, price differences are larger (more savings), in summer they are smaller. A realistic estimate for an actively managed 10 kWh system is EUR 300-600 per year.
On days with negative electricity prices (in 2025, there were more than 100 hours with negative prices in the Netherlands) you literally earn money by charging your battery. You get paid to consume electricity and then use that power in the evening.
The main Dutch suppliers with dynamic contracts in 2026:
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| Supplier | Tariff type | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Tibber | Hourly EPEX price | Most popular, good app, Tibber Pulse dongle |
| Frank Energie | Hourly EPEX price | Competitive rates, clear app |
| ANWB Energie | Hourly EPEX price | Via Tibber platform |
| Easy Energy | Hourly EPEX price | No fixed supply costs |
| Zonneplan | Hourly EPEX price | Smart charging EV integration |
| Beursstroom | Hourly EPEX price | Transparent, low markup |
| NextEnergy | Hourly EPEX price | Newcomer with competitive rates |
Tip: Don't just look at the kWh price but also at the fixed supply costs, grid fees and the markup your supplier charges on top of the EPEX price.
Not every battery is equally suitable. The key requirements:
| Brand/Model | Dynamic tariff integration | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Zendure SolarFlow | Built-in, very good. Automatic EPEX optimisation via app | Best in class |
| Anker SOLIX (Solarbank + X1) | Good. P1 dongle connection, smart charging schedules | Very good |
| EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra | Basic. Via Smart Home Panel and external integration | Good |
| Huawei LUNA 2000 | Via inverter + external integration (Home Assistant) | Good, more manual |
Five practical tips to get the most out of your dynamic contract and home battery:
The EPEX spot prices for the following day are published every day at 13:00. Smart batteries use this data automatically. Check whether your system supports this.
Free solar power is always more advantageous than cheap grid power. Set your battery to prioritise solar generation over charging from the grid.
The highest tariffs typically fall between 17:00 and 21:00. Make sure your battery is sufficiently charged at those times to cover your consumption.
Use your battery's app and your energy supplier's app to monitor your savings. After a month, you'll see patterns and can refine your strategy.
Schedule your washing machine, dishwasher and other high-consumption appliances during cheap hours. In combination with a home battery, you reduce your energy costs to the maximum.
Dynamic tariffs are not without risk:
Our honest advice: A dynamic contract combined with a home battery is financially more attractive for most households with solar panels than a fixed contract. But it requires a home battery with good smart control. Without a battery, you're vulnerable to price spikes.
Savings vary from EUR 200 to EUR 600 per year, depending on your battery capacity, consumption pattern and how actively you optimise. Households with solar panels and a 10 kWh battery save on average EUR 350-500 per year compared to a fixed contract.
No, a dynamic contract also works without solar panels. With just a home battery, you benefit from the price difference between cheap and expensive hours. But the combination with solar panels is the most profitable, as you also store free solar power.
In theory yes, if you systematically consume electricity at the most expensive times. In practice, a home battery with smart control ensures you do the exact opposite. The risk is minimal when you use a battery with automatic optimisation.
Switching can usually be done within 2-4 weeks. Your current supplier has a cancellation period of a maximum of 30 days (with a variable contract) or until the end of the contract period (with a fixed contract). There are no costs associated with switching.
The EPEX spot market is the day-ahead market on which most dynamic contracts are based. The imbalance market is the real-time market where the grid is balanced. Some advanced systems can also trade on the imbalance market, but this is more complex and not accessible to most consumers.
Patrick from Home Energy Solutions
Founder & certified energy advisor
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