Couple of things I have set up that might be helpful (node red)

[richsimpson]

Just a couple of things I have setup to overcome some challenges.

1 - Inverter is locked
As I have some automations that run in the evenings or during a Octopus Power Hour - where I want the inverter to be set into a manual/force charge state,

Sometimes I noticed the inverter had power cycled or an update had been applied but I had forgotten to check the inverter is in an unlocked state. That stops the automations I have running from working (I can't talk to the inverter).

Solution - I have an automation that runs each hour at 25 past the hour to check the state. I opted for 25 past, as I have things occur at half past the hour.
1st part checks the inverter is in a normal mode and alerts me if it is not so I can intervene. (More on that below)
2nd part checks the inverter is in a unlock or unlock - advanced mode and again alerts me if not.

2 - Inverter state of charge
Now it is the time of year where I am draining my storage batteries down to the 10% minimum, I noticed a couple of time the inverter would go to idle mode and lock up. I have another automation that checks the forecast solar and charges the battery accordingly in off peak times and on two occasions I noticed after a couple of hours the battery was still at 10% and not charging. When I noticed I dint have enough of my off-peak time to recharge the battery enough for the following day so had to buy in from the grid (booo!)

I have a software update since that hopefully solves the issue. Whilst waiting for that and while I wait to see if it has worked, I set this automation that basically check the storage battery 5 mins into the off-peak session to make sure the battery is at 12% minimum. So it has charged by 2% in the 5-minute window. If not, then I get an alert so I can intervene.

3 - Jumpstart the battery if invertor not switched to battery already

I had noticed that sometimes when the house is empty, so the house is ticking over on a fairly low load, that at the point the PV drops below the house load, that the battery does not kick in to power the house or contribute to the PV production. Can be for hours from sunset that this happens, right through to morning and sunrise. So for that period of time the house is running from the grid rather than pulling from the battery. Hopefully a software update fixes it.
If I am in the house then something typically triggers the battery as the house load increases, tv, lights, whatever...

Solution - In the meantime I have an automation that looks for the import from grid being more than 200w for 5 minutes, but where the house load is also below 1000w. Then it checks if I am in a manual mode on the inverter, which would usually mean another automation is running and requesting that. Otherwise I get an alert to my phone to review and intervene.

For me I have the option in the Solar dash (and I could automate this to just happen) which triggers a "jump start battery" routine. For me this will set my underfloor heating to a higher than ordinary temperature, wit for 20 seconds (which is long enough to register the higher load) then reset to a lower more ordinary temperature. (My flow goes on to make sure the reduced temperature has worked though not necessary, just had it fail once on the thermostat so belt and braces!).
This is enough to trigger a high 3kwh demand which will then make the battery start supplying the house and continues to do so for the low house load that follows.

4 - Slow Car Charger (or any measured device) - Using more than the PV production

In the summer where there is excess solar produced, I have my EV granny/brick charger, the small power output one, set to dump the excess into my car when I am home.

To do this I use a smart plug that sees the power consumption. As my inverter is only a 3.6KW version and my main fast EV charger is a dumb rolec with no options to change settings, I have my slow charger set to a low output that will typically mean I can send a bit f power to the car on top of the general house usage. My charger has the options for 1400w, 1700w or 2300w and I select the most approriate on the charger or in the car.

I have an automation that looks to see if the charger is sending more energy out to the car than the solar is producing as excess. This only operates outside of my Octopus Go Tariff, where if the difference between the PV generation and the House load (including the car charging) is more than 1000w, a sensor is activated.
If that sensor is activated for 5 minutes non-stop, and the EV is still charging, then I get a prompt to my phone and I can then intervene. Cancelling the charge (switch off the smart plug) if I want to.