EcoPhi Renewables Engineering GmbH

EcoPhi offers vendor-neutral monitoring solutions for PV systems, BESS, microgrids, and hybrid energy systems. Operational data from various inverters, battery systems, energy meters, generator controls, and sensors is centrally collected, visualized, and analyzed.

The web-based platform enables remote access, live data, historical analyses, alarm notifications, reports, and the monitoring of multiple locations.

EcoPhi’s energy management systems control and optimize the interaction between PV, BESS, the grid, generators, and electrical loads.

Typical functions include zero export, peak shaving, self-consumption optimization, power limitation, charging and discharging management, load management, and the control of diesel-PV hybrid systems.

The control strategies are tailored to the technical and economic requirements of each specific system.

EcoPhi integrates devices and systems from different manufacturers into a single monitoring and control solution. Supported devices include inverters, battery systems, energy meters, generator controls, weather stations, and other sensors.

Depending on the application, communication takes place via Modbus RTU, Modbus TCP, CAN, digital and analog interfaces, or APIs, for example. This allows both new installations and existing systems to be flexibly connected and expanded.

EcoPhi supports projects from technical analysis and system planning through commissioning to long-term operational support.

Our services include testing communication interfaces, developing customized control strategies, device integration, hardware configuration, dashboard customization, testing, and commissioning support.

These solutions are particularly well-suited for commercial and industrial PV and BESS projects, microgrids, and off-grid and hybrid energy systems.

The Plant Controller is a powerful control and monitoring solution for complex energy systems. It connects PV systems, BESS, grid connections, generators, energy meters, and other components into a single centralized system.

In addition to data acquisition, the Plant Controller also performs active control and optimization tasks. These include, for example, zero export, peak shaving, self-consumption optimization, power limitation, charging and discharging management, generator control, and load management.

Thanks to its vendor-neutral device integration, the Plant Controller is particularly well-suited for commercial and industrial facilities, microgrids, and hybrid and off-grid energy systems. Project-specific control strategies can be implemented flexibly.

The Basic Controller is a compact solution for monitoring and controlling smaller, less complex energy systems. It collects operational data from inverters, energy meters, BESS, and other connected devices and transmits it to the EcoPhi monitoring platform.

Depending on the project, the Basic Controller can also perform simple control functions, such as power limiting, switching external devices, or implementing basic control strategies.

The Basic Controller is particularly well-suited for smaller PV and BESS systems, individual commercial sites, and applications with a manageable number of devices and data points.

The Gateway Nano is an exceptionally compact communication and monitoring gateway for decentralized energy systems. It connects selected inverters, energy meters, battery systems, or sensors to the EcoPhi Cloud, enabling centralized remote monitoring of the system.

The Gateway collects relevant operational data, transmits it to the monitoring platform, and supports features such as live data, historical analyses, alarm notifications, and status monitoring.

Thanks to its compact design, the Gateway Nano is particularly well-suited for smaller PV and BESS systems, standardized series applications, and projects that require a cost-effective and space-saving monitoring solution.

The EcoPhi platform is a web-based monitoring and management solution for PV systems, BESS, hybrid energy systems, and microgrids. It consolidates the operational data from all connected components into a central user interface and enables location-independent monitoring of individual systems or entire system portfolios.

The platform visualizes current and historical measurement data from inverters, battery systems, energy meters, generators, sensors, and other devices. Customizable dashboards provide a quick overview of system status, energy flows, generation, consumption, grid draw, feed-in, charge levels, and other relevant metrics.

Features include live data, historical analyses, alarm and event notifications, automated alerts, reports, data exports, and multi-site monitoring. Faults, communication failures, and anomalies can be detected early and analyzed in detail.

In conjunction with EcoPhi controllers, the platform also supports the monitoring of active control functions such as zero export, peak shaving, self-consumption optimization, power limitation, charging and discharging management, load management, and generator control.

Thanks to its vendor-neutral device integration, the EcoPhi platform is suitable for both new installations and the retrofitting of existing systems. User rights, views, and functions can be customized on a project-by-project basis. This makes the platform particularly well-suited for operators, EPC companies, service partners, and companies with multiple decentralized energy systems.

Since 2023, EcoPhi has been optimizing a complex energy system for a residential complex in Johannesburg, consisting of a PV system with a total capacity of 170 kWp, a BESS, and three diesel generators, each with a capacity of 500 kVA. The multi-vendor EcoPhi solution integrates inverters from different manufacturers, generators, energy meters, and sensors into a central energy and plant management system.

The EcoPhi Hybrid System Optimizer controls energy usage based on grid tariffs, PV generation, battery state of charge, and grid availability. When electricity prices are low, the BESS is charged selectively, while when prices are high, PV energy is used first, followed by stored energy, to reduce grid consumption. A defined minimum reserve in the BESS ensures that sufficient energy remains available during grid outages.

During a power outage, the system initially draws power from the PV system and the BESS. Only when the state of charge falls below a specified threshold are the diesel generators automatically started. These are operated at an efficient operating point whenever possible and charge the BESS up to a defined state of charge. They are then shut down again. This reduces fuel consumption, generator runtime, and operating costs.

The EcoPhi platform displays all energy flows and system components on a central dashboard. The platform provides a fleet overview, status monitoring, remote adjustment of control parameters, and automatic alerts via email and SMS. By comparing actual PV output with measured solar irradiance, contamination, defective modules, or other performance deviations can also be detected early on.

For a residential complex in Johannesburg, EcoPhi, together with its implementation partner ANES, implemented a multi-vendor control and monitoring solution. The system includes a 110 kWp PV system, three Sungrow inverters (100 kW each), and two diesel generators (500 kVA each).

The EcoPhi Pro Box continuously monitors grid consumption and regulates PV generation according to current usage. Since feeding power into the public grid is not permitted, excess PV output is dynamically limited. The default target value is 0.0 kW of feed-in, but it can be adjusted to meet project-specific or contractual requirements.

In the event of a power outage, the system automatically activates fuel-saving mode. In this mode, the output of the PV inverters is controlled so that the generators cover only a defined portion of the power demand. This ensures that the generators operate within an optimal range while maximizing the use of PV energy. In this project, this approach resulted in savings of up to 280 liters of diesel per week.

The EcoPhi platform provides a centralized visualization of energy flows, system performance, and savings. Comparing PV generation with measured solar irradiance enables the early detection of soiling, defective modules, or technical malfunctions. Automatic email and SMS alerts, status monitoring, and remote adjustment of control parameters support efficient operation and reduce service response times.

For a hybrid energy system in Fulda, EcoPhi is integrating an existing PV system with two different BESS units and a detailed consumption tracking system. The goal of the project is to reduce energy costs, increase self-consumption, and consolidate all system components into a single monitoring and control system.

The main challenge was to integrate the existing PV system and the two BESS across different manufacturers and to reliably coordinate their interaction. At the same time, energy consumption needed to be tracked in detail to optimally align generation, storage, and consumption.

Through self-consumption optimization, excess PV energy is primarily used directly or stored in the BESS for later consumption, rather than being fed into the grid. In addition, a peak-shaving function reduces grid draw during peak loads through the targeted use of the BESS.

An advanced PV analysis continuously compares actual generation with expected output values. This allows deviations and potential malfunctions to be detected early on, ensuring that the PV system operates as efficiently as possible.

EcoPhi was selected because it offers a flexible, vendor-neutral solution that allows different system components to be integrated and coordinated within a single system. The combination of detailed energy data collection and intelligent control functions enables transparent, reliable, and cost-effective system operation.

For an energy system in the Dutch province of Noord-Holland, EcoPhi developed a flexible monitoring and control solution to optimize various energy components. Among other things, the system connects inverters, BESS, charging infrastructure, and heat pumps within a single energy management system.

The challenge was to integrate various communication protocols, technical standards, and regulatory requirements into a single central control system. This includes, for example, feed-in limits, the prioritization of individual consumers, and the coordination of the entire system based on fluctuating intraday and day-ahead electricity prices.

To address this, EcoPhi implemented a combined hardware and software solution that is easy to install and can connect to multiple components simultaneously. The system uses feed-in limits, peak shaving, self-consumption optimization, and the integration of dynamic electricity prices to manage energy usage cost-effectively.

When electricity prices are low, flexible loads and the BESS can be specifically utilized or charged. During periods of high prices, the system reduces grid draw by using locally generated or stored energy. This helps lower energy costs while simultaneously increasing the use of renewable energy.

EcoPhi was selected for its high adaptability and cross-vendor compatibility. The solution can integrate various inverters, BESS, chargers, and heat pumps and reliably control complex systems based on dynamic price signals.