iONTEC Connect is a Polish Energy Management System (EMS) that transforms your photovoltaic installation, battery energy storage system and household electrical loads into one intelligent energy ecosystem. The device automatically decides when to consume energy, when to store it, when to use it later and when to limit energy export to the grid.

With iONTEC Connect, users can reduce electricity bills, maximize self-consumption and make better use of their battery storage system. The system operates automatically 24/7, eliminating the need to monitor electricity prices, change inverter settings or manually schedule battery charging and discharging.

Why choose iONTEC Connect?

A photovoltaic system usually generates the most electricity during the day, when household consumption is relatively low. Excess energy is exported to the grid, while electricity has to be purchased again in the evening or at night. A battery storage system improves this situation, but without an intelligent energy management system it typically follows a simple, fixed operating strategy.

iONTEC Connect manages energy in a much smarter way. It continuously analyses PV production, battery charge level and electricity prices, then automatically selects the most cost-effective operating strategy for the entire system.

In practice, this means buying less electricity from the grid, making better use of your own solar production and spending less time managing your installation.

What are the benefits of iONTEC Connect?

Lower electricity bills

The system helps reduce the amount of expensive electricity purchased from the grid. Energy generated by the photovoltaic installation can be consumed directly, stored in the battery or used to power selected electrical loads.

If you use dynamic electricity tariffs, iONTEC Connect automatically adapts the operation of the installation to current market conditions. The battery can be charged when electricity prices are low and discharged when buying electricity from the grid becomes more expensive.

Maximize self-consumption

The highest value of solar energy is achieved when it is consumed directly within your own property. iONTEC Connect increases self-consumption, allowing you to use a greater proportion of the energy generated by your photovoltaic system.

Instead of exporting excess electricity to the grid, the system can direct it to the battery storage system, domestic hot water heating, air conditioning or other electrical loads. This allows more of the generated energy to remain available for your own use.

Smarter battery energy storage management

Simply purchasing a battery storage system does not guarantee maximum savings. Standard inverter settings often rely on basic charging from surplus PV production and discharging when demand increases.

iONTEC Connect manages your battery much more intelligently. The system can automatically determine:

• when to start charging the battery,
• when to use the stored energy,
• when to keep energy for later use,
• when to reduce energy export to the grid,
• how to optimise battery operation according to electricity prices.

As a result, your battery storage system becomes an active energy management tool rather than simply an energy storage device.

Automatic use of dynamic electricity pricing

Electricity prices can change several times throughout the day. Monitoring the market and manually adjusting battery settings would be both time-consuming and inconvenient.

iONTEC Connect integrates with RCE dynamic electricity prices and automatically adapts the installation to current market conditions. Users no longer need to monitor electricity price charts or manually configure charging schedules. The system operates automatically according to predefined rules.

Control electrical loads when electricity is available or cheaper

iONTEC Connect can automatically switch selected electrical loads on and off. This allows surplus PV production to be used more effectively or appliances to operate when electricity is cheaper.

The system can control, among others:

• domestic hot water heaters,
• heat pumps,
• air conditioning systems,
• other devices connected via the relay output module.

Users can create schedules based on current electricity prices, exported energy values or specific operating hours. This ensures that appliances operate only when it is economically beneficial.

Reduce energy export during unfavourable market conditions

The ZERO EXPORT function allows exported energy to be limited according to user settings and electricity market conditions.

This is particularly useful during periods of low or negative electricity prices, when exporting surplus energy may no longer be profitable. The system can then redirect surplus energy to the battery or local electrical loads.

Automatic operation without daily supervision

Once configured, iONTEC Connect operates automatically. Users no longer need to analyse PV production every day, monitor battery charge levels or manually adjust inverter settings.

The system works around the clock, providing savings, convenience and greater control over your home's energy.

Ready for the future of the energy market

The energy market is rapidly evolving towards dynamic pricing, intelligent energy management and closer cooperation with grid operators. iONTEC Connect has been designed with these future requirements in mind.

The device supports inverter control according to DSO requirements, active power limitation, ON/OFF control and integration with Smart Grid solutions.

Is iONTEC Connect right for you?

iONTEC Connect is the right choice if you:

• have a photovoltaic system and want to make better use of your solar energy,
• already own or plan to install a battery energy storage system,
• want to reduce electricity purchased from the grid,
• use or plan to use dynamic electricity tariffs,
• want to automatically control your heat pump, water heater, air conditioning or other electrical loads,
• want to reduce energy export during unfavourable market conditions,
• do not want to manually adjust inverter and battery settings every day,
• need a system compatible with equipment from multiple manufacturers.

One system to manage your entire energy installation

iONTEC Connect can integrate string inverters, microinverters and hybrid inverters from various manufacturers. This means you are not limited to a single closed ecosystem of devices.

The system combines your photovoltaic installation, battery storage system, electrical loads and electricity price data into one intelligent control platform. In practice, it acts as a central energy management controller, ensuring the most efficient use of available energy.

Local processing for greater reliability

iONTEC Connect is based on Edge Computing. This means that data related to energy consumption and connected devices can be collected, analysed and processed directly by the controller.

The most important energy management functions do not rely on a cloud platform. This provides greater system autonomy, faster response times and reduced dependence on external services.

Communication and cybersecurity

Communication with inverters is available via RS485, Ethernet or Wi-Fi. The controller supports the Modbus RTU, Modbus TCP and SunSpec communication protocols.

The system uses encrypted MQTT communication and supports authentication and authorisation mechanisms. Additional security layers such as VPN and IPSec can also be implemented.

The controller firmware can be updated locally or remotely using OTA (Over-the-Air) updates.

Key features of iONTEC Connect

• Automatic battery charging and discharging management,
• Self-consumption optimisation,
• Integration with RCE dynamic electricity prices,
• Energy management based on dynamic electricity pricing,
• ZERO EXPORT functionality,
• Control of electrical loads using schedules,
• Integration with inverters from multiple manufacturers,
• Support for string, hybrid and microinverters,
• Active power limitation,
• ON/OFF inverter control,
• Automatic inverter transition to OFF-GRID mode when grid voltage thresholds are exceeded,
• Support for Modbus RTU, Modbus TCP and SunSpec,
• Local data processing using Edge Computing,
• Communication via RS485, Ethernet and Wi-Fi,
• Optional LTE, PLC or LoRa communication,
• Encrypted MQTT communication,
• Remote OTA firmware updates,
• DIN rail mounting.

Technical specifications – iONTEC Connect

• Power supply: 12–30 V DC, screw terminal,
• Operating temperature: -40°C to +75°C,
• Protection: ESD 4 kV/8 kV, Burst, Surge, RF,
• Ethernet interface: 1 × RJ45 WAN/LAN, 2 kV isolation, 10/100 BASE-T,
• Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n, up to 150 Mbps,
• Serial ports: 2 × RS232/RS485, screw terminal,
• Transmission speed: up to 115200 bps,
• Protection rating: IP20,
• Dimensions: 90 × 56.4 × 22.5 mm,
• Mounting: DIN rail,
• Certifications: CE, RoHS, EMC, LVD,
• Standards: EN 61000-6-2 and EN 61000-6-4.

Technical specifications – Relay Output Module

• Power supply: 9–30 V DC,
• Maximum AC-1 load current: 16 A,
• Contact configuration: 1 × NO/NC, optional 4 × NO,
• Communication: RS485 / Modbus RTU,
• Operating temperature: -20°C to +50°C,
• Protection rating: IP20,
• Dimensions: 90 × 56.4 × 18 mm,
• Mounting: DIN rail.