FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Furo.
Starting an analysis
The load profile upload doesn't work.
CSV and Excel files (.xlsx) with 15-minute or hourly values over 365 to 366 days are supported. What each message means and which timestamp and number formats Furo accepts is described under Load profile: what the messages during upload mean. A quick way out of timestamp problems: upload the values without timestamps in a single column and state the start date plus resolution.
Can I account for several PV orientations?
Yes, via the plus symbol. Currently, though, only one shared feed-in tariff is supported for all orientations.
What has to be entered for electricity price and demand charge?
See Price entry from your electricity bill, under Plan.
How is the battery investment cost calculated?
For the optimal sizing, from power and capacity costs. With your own battery portfolio (at least 1 battery) your stored average prices are used. Without a portfolio, €200/kW and €400/kWh apply by default.
What is a "project"?
A project is tied to an address and can contain any number of analyses. A new address creates a new project in the project overview.
Results
Does peak shaving also account for the savings from the PV system?
No, the calculation only covers the effect of the battery. A load profile with PV but without a battery is compared against a load profile with PV and battery. For a combined view, activate "PV & Battery combined".
Is VAT calculated separately?
No. Enter the values from the electricity bill as net amounts (excl. VAT). Furo calculates net (the price total appears in the tool as "Total (net)").
Why does my analysis show negative grid savings but still an overall gain?
With atypical grid usage (atypische Netznutzung) you can choose between the tariff below or above 2,500 usage hours. Sometimes the more expensive tariff above 2,500 h is still worth it because the lower working price (Arbeitspreis) weighs more heavily than the higher demand charge (Leistungspreis): the higher grid fees (Netzentgelte) then appear as negative grid savings, but the larger electricity cost savings outweigh them and add up to an overall gain. See also the knowledge pack on the 2,500-hour rule (2.500-Stunden-Regel, § 19 StromNEV) and tariff choice.
Why doesn't the calculated electricity value match consumption times electricity price exactly?
That comes from the assumed battery efficiency, 95% by default, i.e. 5% loss per charge and discharge. At 100% efficiency the value is closer to the plain multiplication. Smaller deviations of around 1% remain possible through rounding.
How does the tool decide when power is bought in the dynamic electricity tariff?
Through mathematical optimization instead of rigid rules: power is drawn preferentially when it is cheap, and expensive time windows are covered from the battery as far as possible. How the optimizer works in detail is described under How Furo calculates.
How are the savings in the dynamic electricity tariff calculated?
The spot price is topped up with taxes, grid fees, surcharges and the grid operator's working price. Two scenarios are compared, with and without a battery. The difference is the savings, independent of the customer's individual starting situation.
Why are the savings from self-consumption sometimes negative?
This can occur with a static tariff, PV in direct marketing (Direktvermarktung) and grid-charging storage (Graustromspeicher) selected. The savings are calculated as (grid import without storage minus grid import with storage) times the electricity price. If more grid power is drawn in order to feed in at a more lucrative moment, this value can turn negative.
Why doesn't the net present value equal the annual benefit times the project term?
Because every annual cash flow is discounted to today. At a 2% discount rate a euro in year 15 counts for only about 74 cents, and on top of that come battery ageing, the savings adjustment and, where applicable, debt interest cost. The full calculation is under Economics.
Access and trial period
My invitation code doesn't work.
An invitation code consists of six digits and is valid for one week. The message you get at app.furoenergy.com/signup tells you what to do:
| Message | What's behind it |
|---|---|
| Invalid invitation code. Please check your code and try again. | Code and email address don't match — usually a typo, or you're using a different address than the one invited |
| Your invitation code has expired. We've emailed you a new code. | The week is up. A new code is on its way automatically, you don't have to request it — this takes a few minutes |
| This invitation code is no longer valid — you have already been sent a new one by email. | You're using the code from an older invitation email. Take the one from the most recent |
| This invitation code has been locked due to too many failed attempts. | After ten failed attempts Furo locks the code. Only a new invitation helps here |
| Your invitation code has expired. Please ask your inviter to send a new invitation. | The code had expired and the automatic reissue didn't work — get in touch with us |
| Account already exists. Please log in. | There is already a full account for this address. Log in instead; with SSO the message names the matching provider |
No invitation yet? Via "Don't have an invitation code? Request Code" on the sign-up page you can request one yourself.
I never received the invitation email.
Check the spam folder first: some mail servers file our invitation emails as spam. Mark the message as "not spam" so that further mails from us arrive reliably. Also note that an expired code is replaced automatically — the most recent email is then the right one. If you find nothing at all, write to us.
I received a project code. Where do I redeem it?
Under Profile → Company settings, right next to your project count. Each code works once and unlocks one additional project as soon as you enter the last character; the field is only shown on pay-as-you-go accounts.
How long does the trial period run, and what happens afterwards?
The trial access runs for two weeks. After that all your projects and results stay visible — you can keep viewing and sharing them, only creating new analyses is blocked. If you need longer to test, we'll extend the access on request.
Other
Can we customize the analysis reports with our own logo and colors?
Yes, configurable in the profile area. This affects the analysis results you share via link.
Where is my data processed, and is the platform secure?
GDPR-compliant, exclusively in Germany and the EU: Netlify (Frankfurt, SOC 2, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS), Google Cloud Platform (EU data centers, ISO 27001, SOC 2, BSI C5) and Supabase (eu-west-1, HIPAA-compliant, SOC 2). Full technical and organizational measures (TOMs) under Art. 32 GDPR on request. The biggest real security risk usually lies not in the infrastructure but in insecure passwords; a strong, unique password or a password manager is the best protection.