← Back to Decarbonarma
← Back to Decarbonarma
The only UK-specific guide to getting Homey Pro working with your battery, solar, smart meter, and Octopus tariff — written for Decarbonarma customers, not developers.
Homey Pro is the local smart home hub that sits between your battery, solar, and Octopus tariff — acting as the brain that makes everything talk to each other. There are two current models to choose from.
Both Homey Pro models are officially supported until at least June 2031 and receive identical features and updates. The only difference is RAM (4GB vs 2GB) and the inclusion of Z-Wave, Bluetooth, and Infrared in the larger model.
The current flagship. 4GB RAM, quad-core processor, all 8 wireless protocols including Z-Wave and Matter. Handles large battery setups, complex Flows, and multiple battery apps simultaneously without slowing down.
Best for: homes with battery + solar + EV + heat pump. Future-proof for VPP participation.
Same core software as the Pro 2026, at £200 less. No Z-Wave, Bluetooth, or Infrared — but has Ethernet built-in. If your battery system uses Wi-Fi or Zigbee only, this is perfectly capable.
Best for: simpler setups with one battery brand and no legacy Z-Wave devices.
Home Assistant (HA) on a Raspberry Pi or dedicated hardware is a more powerful but significantly more technical alternative. For users who are comfortable with YAML configuration files and want maximum control, HA with the Predbat plugin is the gold standard for battery optimisation on Octopus tariffs. For everyone else, Homey Pro gives 80% of the capability with a fraction of the setup time.
| Feature | Homey Pro | Home Assistant |
|---|---|---|
| Setup time | 30–60 mins | Several hours to days |
| Technical skill required | None | Moderate–high |
| Octopus Agile integration | Community app (in development) | Official integration, mature |
| Predbat battery optimisation | Not available | Full support |
| GivEnergy* support | Community app — see note | Excellent via local API |
| Tesla Powerwall support | Official app | Via Teslemetry/official |
| Huawei LUNA support | Community app | Excellent via Modbus |
| VPP webhook support | Built-in webhook trigger | Full webhook support |
| Mobile app quality | Excellent native app | Functional but complex |
GivEnergy note: GivEnergy Ltd entered administration on 9 April 2026 and has ceased trading. Existing GivEnergy systems will continue to work, but manufacturer warranties are now uncertain and software support may be affected. If you have a GivEnergy system, contact your installer. If you are choosing a new battery, we currently recommend Tesla Powerwall 3, Huawei LUNA2000, or SigenStor as alternatives.
This is the most commonly misunderstood step for UK users. Unlike European countries where smart meters have a P1 port, UK SMETS2 meters communicate differently — and the Homey Energy Dongle does not work in the UK.
The Homey Energy Dongle does NOT work in the UK. It uses a P1 port connector (RJ12) which is a European standard. UK SMETS2 smart meters do not have a P1 port — they use a proprietary Zigbee-based Home Area Network (HAN) that requires a licensed Consumer Access Device (CAD). Homey only ships the dongle to mainland European countries.
The Hildebrand Glow CAD (Consumer Access Device) is currently the best option for UK homeowners wanting live smart meter data. Hildebrand are a licensed DCC Other User, meaning they can legally access your SMETS2 meter data independently of your energy supplier.
Connects to your SMETS2 meter via Zigbee, sends live data (10-second electricity, 30-min gas) to Hildebrand's servers, and makes it available via API, MQTT, and the Bright app. Compatible with Home Assistant and Homey.
Works with SMETS1 and SMETS2. Octopus Agile customers can see live tariff costs. API included free.
Same data access as the display model but without a screen — just data. Lower cost option if you only need the API/MQTT feed for automation and are happy to view data in Homey or Home Assistant instead.
Ideal for technical users who want MQTT data flowing straight to Home Assistant.
Buy from glowmarkt.com. Download the free Bright app and register your account — you'll need these credentials to authorise the CAD to access your meter.
When your Glow CAD arrives, plug it in near your meter and follow the Bright app pairing process. Hildebrand will connect it to your specific meter via the DCC network — this can take 24–48 hours to activate.
Install the Glow (Hildebrand) app from the Homey App Store. Sign in with your Bright app email and password. Your electricity consumption, gas usage, and live costs will appear in the Homey Energy tab.
In the Glow app settings, enable the local MQTT feed. Point it at your Home Assistant MQTT broker IP. You'll get 10-second electricity readings as sensor.glow_electricity_power — ideal for Predbat and real-time Agile automation.
Do you already have an Octopus account? If you're on Octopus, you can also pull your tariff and consumption data via the Octopus Energy integration (Home Assistant) or the community Octopus app (Homey) — no physical device needed. This is ideal for viewing half-hourly usage but doesn't give the live 10-second power readings that the Glow CAD provides.
Each battery brand has its own Homey app. Most connect directly over your local Wi-Fi network — no cloud dependency needed for control, which is important for VPP dispatch reliability.
Controls Powerwall 2 & 3 plus Tesla vehicles. Uses Tesla Fleet API. Requires a Tesla developer account (free). Charge/discharge modes, reserve %, SoC monitoring.
Official AppControls Huawei SUN2000 inverter and LUNA2000 battery. Local Modbus connection — works without internet. Working mode, charge/discharge power, SoC.
Community AppMonitoring and some control via SolarEdge cloud API. Generation, consumption, battery SoC. Note: control capability more limited than local-API brands.
Community AppFull control via FoxCloud API. Charge/discharge schedules, working mode, SoC. Good integration, active development community.
Community AppLocal Modbus control via Home Assistant. Full charge/discharge capability. Strong UK installer network in 2026. Recommended GivEnergy alternative.
HA RecommendedCommunity app using local network connection. Note: GivEnergy Ltd entered administration April 2026. Existing systems work but see Step 1 warning before choosing this brand.
⚠️ See WarningSearch for your battery brand name. Both official and community apps appear here. Tap Install and wait for it to download to your hub (~30 seconds).
Go to Devices → + → Add Device. Select your battery brand. You'll be asked for either your cloud account credentials (e.g. Tesla, FoxESS) or your inverter's local IP address (e.g. Huawei, SigenStor).
For local network connections, log into your home router and look for a device with your inverter's brand name. Assign it a static IP address so it doesn't change. Common addresses: 192.168.1.xxx. Your router admin page is usually at 192.168.1.1.
Once added, open Settings → Energy in Homey. Your battery, solar generation, and consumption should all appear as live devices. This confirms everything is talking correctly before you build any Flows.
Tesla Powerwall setup note: Tesla's Fleet API requires a free developer account at developer.tesla.com. You'll generate an API key and link it to your Homey app. This takes about 10 minutes and only needs doing once. The Powerwall then appears in Homey with full SoC, charge/discharge mode, and reserve percentage control.
The Octopus Energy integration brings your real-time tariff prices, consumption data, and Intelligent dispatch slots into Homey — enabling price-responsive automations. For UK users this is the most valuable integration you can add.
UK status (May 2026): The official Octopus Energy Homey app is a community development — it is functional but not as mature as the Home Assistant integration. If you need the most robust Octopus + battery automation (particularly for Agile half-hourly price response), Home Assistant with the official Octopus Energy integration and Predbat is currently the stronger choice. That said, Homey + Octopus works well for simpler automations like scheduled EV charging and heat pump pre-heating.
Search the Homey App Store for "Octopus Energy Integration". This is a community app — install it and open its settings page within Homey.
Log into your Octopus account at octopus.energy/dashboard. Go to Account → Personal Details → API Access. Generate a personal API key. This is what Homey uses to read your tariff data.
In the Homey Octopus app settings, enter your electricity MPAN (found on any Octopus bill or in your account) and your API key. This links Homey to your specific meter and tariff data.
After a few minutes, you should see your current Agile or Go rate appearing as a device in Homey. You can use this as a trigger in Flows — e.g. When electricity price drops below 10p → Start EV charging.
If you're using Home Assistant, the official Octopus Energy integration is the most capable route. Combined with Predbat (free, open-source battery optimisation), it creates a fully automated system that:
Tomorrow's prices download from Octopus every evening after 4pm — Predbat plans your battery charging schedule overnight to use the cheapest slots.
If you're on Intelligent Go, Predbat reads Octopus's dispatch schedule and coordinates your EV charging and home battery to avoid conflict — so both charge at 7p/kWh overnight without fighting each other.
Free Solcast API provides 48-hour solar generation forecasts. Predbat uses this to decide whether to charge the battery from the grid tonight, or wait for tomorrow's solar generation instead.
Not on Octopus yet? Use our AI Tariff Finder to find the right Octopus tariff for your home setup. Switching takes about 3 weeks and you'll both earn £50 credit via our referral link.
Homey Flows are the automations that make everything work together. Each Flow has a When (trigger), optionally an And (condition), and a Then (action). Here are the four most valuable Flows for a UK green home.
Time is 00:30 (start of Octopus Go / Intelligent cheap window)
Battery SoC is less than 80%
Set battery to Charge from Grid mode at maximum rate
Time is 06:00 (or use sunrise trigger)
Set battery to Self-consumption / Eco mode (store solar, avoid grid import)
Octopus electricity price rises above 30p/kWh
Battery SoC is above 30% (leave reserve for evening)
Set battery to Discharge mode — power the home from battery, avoid buying expensive grid electricity
EV is plugged in AND time is between 00:30 and 04:30
Enable EV charger (Zappi / Ohme / Pod Point) at full rate — charges during cheapest overnight window
Advanced Flows: Homey Pro's Advanced Flow editor (available in the web app at my.homey.app) lets you create complex multi-branch automations with if/else logic, delays, and parallel actions. It's the right place to build more sophisticated energy management once you've got the basics working.
Once your battery, smart meter data, and Octopus tariff are all working in Homey, you're ready to join the Decarbonarma Virtual Power Plant — earning passive income by allowing your battery to support the grid during peak demand events.
Go to Settings → API Keys in the Homey web app and create a new API key with device control permissions. You'll provide this to Decarbonarma during VPP sign-up. Also note your Homey's external webhook URL: https://webhook.homey.app/[your-homey-id]/vpp-dispatch
In Homey Flows, create a new Flow with When: Webhook event "vpp-dispatch" received. In the Then action, set your battery to discharge at the rate specified in the webhook payload. Add a condition: Battery SoC > [your SoC floor]% as a safety check.
Create a second Flow with When: Webhook event "vpp-restore" received. This returns your battery to its normal operating mode (self-consumption or time-of-use) when the dispatch event ends.
Complete the sign-up form we provide when you join the pilot. You'll need: your battery brand and capacity, your Homey webhook URL, your preferred SoC floor, and consent to the dispatch terms. We'll test the webhook before going live.
Estimated setup time for all 6 steps: Allow 30–60 minutes for first-time Homey setup, plus another 30 minutes to install apps and build your first Flows. The VPP webhook setup takes about 10 minutes once everything else is working. Most customers are fully live within 2 hours of their Homey Pro arriving.
Your battery is set up, Homey is running, and Octopus is connected. The last step is registering for the Decarbonarma Virtual Power Plant and starting to earn.
Back to Home →