Gütersloh/Berlin, August 31, 2011. – With its first SmartGrid-ready domestic appliances, Miele was first to demonstrate to the world how washing machines et al can use intelligent controls to reduce energy costs by automatically selecting the cheapest electricity tariffs. These machines are already on the market and are soon to be followed up by a further innovation. At the IFA trade show in Berlin, Miele will be presenting a further application for SG Ready technology: Domestic appliances which start automatically when an on-roof photovoltaic array is able to provide a sufficient supply of electricity.

The optimum use of solar power requires an energy management system as, for instance, provided by the solar technology manufacturer SMA. This energy manager is the interface between a solar array and domestic power supply components. This device conciliates the needs of domestic appliances and other power-consuming equipment in order to allow as many devices as possible to be powered by 'home-grown' electricity. Solar yield forecasts are obtained by the energy manager by accessing sites on the Internet. This effectively makes the energy manager the supply-side control centre. Its demand-side counterpart is the Miele gateway which manages information for SG Ready components. All Miele domestic appliances are connected to the gateway.

The Miele gateway tells the energy manager which machines are in SG Ready mode and ready and waiting to set to work, which programmes have been selected and what the energy forecast for the relevant cycles are. The energy manager also takes account of the finishing times entered by users, for example the latest time by which a wash cycle should be complete.

Just one example: A washing machine and dishwasher are both set to finish by 19.00 h at the latest. According to the weather forecast, the sun is expected to shine from lunch onwards, allowing the dishwasher to be switched on at 13.00 h followed by the washing machine two hours later. This particular example takes into account that the house's solar array is not able to provide enough power to run both machines simultaneously. In this respect, the process security guaranteed by SG Ready technology provides peace of mind to users. Even if there is an insufficient supply of 'home-grown' electricity, the washing machine will still start automatically and the selected programme will be complete at the desired time.

Home owners using home-generated solar power in conjunction with Miele's SG Ready technology are not only making an active contribution towards protecting the environment; they are also supporting sustainable energy management as promoted by Germany's renewable energy legislation as power is consumed close to where it is generated. The German state currently subsidises home-generated electricity used on site, making it a more attractive proposition than feeding electricity into the grid.

Press contact:
Michael Prempert
Tel. no.: +49 (0)5241/89-1957
E-Mail: michael.prempert@miele.de

Company profile: Miele is world leader in the production of premium domestic appliances including cooking, baking and steam-cooking appliances, refrigeration products, coffee makers, dishwashers and laundry and floorcare products. This line-up is augmented by dishwashers, washer-extractors and tumble dryers for commercial use as well as washer-disinfectors and sterilisers for use in medical and laboratory applications (Miele Professional). The company, founded in 1899, has 8 production plants in Germany and one plant each in Austria, the Czech Republic, China and Romania. 2010/11 turnover amounted to approx. EUR 2.95 bn with sales outside Germany accounting for 70%. Miele has its own wholly owned sales subsidiaries or operates through distributors in almost 100 countries. The Miele company, now in the fourth generation of family ownership, employs a workforce of over 16,500 with two-thirds in Germany. The company has its headquarters in Gütersloh, Westphalia.

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Running domestic appliances on 'home-grown' electricity is both sustainable and cost-efficient. SG Ready technology from Miele, in this case a washing machine, ensures perfect results.

Chart: Miele

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