This October in Finland, outdoor temperatures swung from -1°C in the early morning to +7°C by afternoon, which are typical shoulder-season conditions when heating demand is moderate but fluctuates throughout the day.
We used this single day as a live test for Kapacity.io’s smart heat pump controls to compare hourly (60min) vs. 15-minute spot market optimisation.
We also ran the day twice in simulation:
Space heating optimisation only Space heating + Hot Water Boost That gave us four scenarios, and four telling charts.
Space heating control only – hourly control With hourly prices, the system can only optimise at the start of each hour.
60min control. Heating runs mainly during low-price hours in the early morning Hot water is produced despite higher evening prices to ensure availability of hot water. Space heating control only – 15-minute control 15min control. With 15-minute prices, there’s four times more resolution.
The system catches short cheap intervals even inside high-price hours Heating load spreads more evenly without comfort drops Space heating + Hot Water Boost – hourly control 60min control with Hot Water Boost. Adding hot water means two major loads compete for cheap hours.
Hot water production shifted to the night time. Hot Water Boost ensures that the hot water tank is heated up before hot water is consumed. Some heating runs in moderately expensive hours Space heating + Hot Water Boost – 15-minute control 15min control with Hot Water Boost. This is where shorter pricing intervals shine.
Hot water boost happens just before high prices start Space heating fills surrounding lower-cost intervals Mid-day consumption ensures that indoor temperatures are stable and comfortable Result: 33% reduction in average electricity cost
Normal average cost of electricity: 0.06€/kWh Optimised cost of electricity: 0.04€/kWh What this means for homeowners and energy retailers These modest percentage savings add up. Shorter pricing intervals are becoming standard across Europe. The winners will be systems that can react in real time, using predictive algorithms to shift loads intelligently.
At Kapacity.io, our controls adapt to any market interval, ensuring every opportunity to save is captured.
Stay tuned as we’ll share more real-world 15-minute control examples as the heating season continues.
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