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New energy storage systems from Schneider Electric and EcoFlow keep the home power running with tellingly different strategies.

Jake Hertz

January 30, 2023

3 Min Read
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As more and more homes and businesses are looking for ways to reduce their reliance on traditional energy sources and become more self-sufficient, energy storage systems (ESS) are becoming increasingly important. Namely, these storage systems will be key to enabling renewable energy by storing excess power production during periods of high production. This way, when production is low (e.g., nighttime for a solar panel), off-grid homes have a reliable energy source to keep their home powered.

Two companies that are making a big push in this space are Schneider Electric and EcoFlow. In this article, we’ll take a look at recent ESS product releases from both companies to understand how they’re contributing to the field and the different approaches they are taking.

Schneider Electric’s home energy system

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At CES 2023, Schneider Electric made big headlines with the announcement of its Home Energy Management System.

Designed to provide a one-company-fixes-all solution for managing a home's energy needs, the system includes almost all of the components necessary for a self-sustaining home. Within this, the system includes a home battery, solar inverter, electrical panel, connected power outlets, smart switches, and an EV charger. According to the company, the benefit of their system is the ability to purchase all of the components at once and manage all of your home's power needs from a single dashboard.

By doing this, Schneider hopes to address some major pain points of ESS, including cost, space requirements, and system complexity. Instead, with a single, cohesive system, Schneiders believes they can pave the way for a simpler and more affordable self-sustaining home.

EcoFlow’s whole-home solution

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EcoFlow, on the other hand, has recently made its own headlines with the release of its Whole-Home Backup Power Solutions.

Similar to Schneiders’ product, the goal of EcoFlow’s system is to take components for energy storage solutions that may have been sold individually, and bundle them together. Unlike Schneider’s Solution, however, EcoFlow seems to be focusing on creating scalable and customizable solutions that can be modified to fit the needs of an individual user.

Being sold as “kits”, the solution from EcoFlow starts at $3,699 and could reach up to $20,000 for the flagship solutions. All of the kit options are based on EcoFlow's expandable Delta Pro power stations, which feature a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery with 3.6kWh of capacity and up to 3600W of AC output. The Advanced kit also includes an EcoFlow Smart Home Panel for scheduled use during peak hours and automatic 20ms switchover in case of an outage.

Different approaches, common goal

As the world is looking to reduce its reliance on traditional sources of energy, energy storage systems are becoming more important than ever. Both Schneider Electric and EcoFlow are making a big push in the energy storage space, but they are taking slightly different approaches. Schneider is offering a complete solution that includes all of the necessary components for managing your home's energy needs, while EcoFlow is focused on providing scalable backup power solutions that can be customized to suit your needs and budget.

Despite these differences, the companies share a common goal of making energy storage systems more affordable and accessible, which is making them more attractive to a wider range of consumers. As we are moving forward to a green future, this technology will be a key element in the energy transition.

About the Author(s)

Jake Hertz

Jake Hertz is an Electrical Engineer, Technical Writer, and Public Relations Specialist. After he received his M.S. and B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Rochester, he spent three years working as an Electrical Engineer at MakerBot Industries. 

As a writer, Jake is well known for his frequent contributions to various engineering websites, where he has garnered readership in the tens of thousands. Through his business, NanoHertz Solutions, Jake works with cutting-edge companies in the hardware and semiconductor space to build industry buzz and awareness through Public Relations and Technical Writing services.

As an engineer, Jake now works with numerous startups to help develop their hardware products. He is also a Co-Founder of Origin Labs, a NYC-based design firm for tech startups in the hardware space.

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