Fire Smarter, Spend Less with SolarReady

One of the biggest overheads in any ceramic studio is the kiln. That’s where ROHDE’s SolarReady system becomes a game-changer. Designed to pair with your own photovoltaic (solar) power setup, it enables you to fire using far less grid electricity—keeping dollars in your pocket and your studio’s performance high.

Why It Matters in the U.S.

Solar-powered firing means fewer monthly utility bills and more budget freed up for glazes, clay, and tools.
The optimized controllers (models TR 511 / TR 532) let any ROHDE kiln made from 1994 onward switch into “solar-mode” without changing firing results.
Even in less-sunny conditions, the system draws intelligently from your solar setup and only taps the grid when absolutely needed.

That means you get the results you expect—reliable temps, consistent firings—while saving 95% energy!

FAQ

A ceramic kiln controls the temperature by switching the heating elements on and off. With conventional control systems, this works so quickly that a photovoltaic system is overwhelmed by the speed.
With a photovoltaics-optimized control system, these switching cycles are extended so that they harmonize with your PV system.

Does photovoltaic firing have an influence on the firing curve or the result?

At the beginning of the firing process and in the low temperature ranges, the firing curve is still noticeably wavy compared to the smooth target curve. This changes long before the temperature ranges relevant for the ceramic quality (quartz inversion) are reached.
Before the market launch, we tested photovoltaics-optimized firing intensively in practice for a year in our own laboratory and in some ceramic companies: there are no differences in terms of the results.

What changes will there be to the power supply for my kiln?

Current PV systems are grid-connected. This means that the kiln is still connected to the electricity grid in the house. If sufficient electricity is available from the PV system, this is used as a priority, and less electricity is drawn from the grid. If no or too little electricity is available from the PV system, the electricity comes from the grid as before.
There is no interruption in the power supply. Not even with ceramic firing.

Which ROHDE kiln is optimal for my photovoltaic system?

As a rule of thumb, the so-called peak output of your photovoltaics system should be 2.5 times the connected load of your kiln.
This means that an Ecotop 60 is the right size for 9.9 kW photovoltaic systems.

Bottom Line

If you’re ready to lower costs, shrink your environmental footprint, and upgrade your studio workflow, SolarReady gives you a tangible way to do it. Your kiln doesn’t just fire—it fires with your priorities in mind.