60+ YEARS 
OF EXPERIENCE

Why connectivity is becoming at least as important as protectionEnergy installations are not only getting larger, they are also becoming smarter. Solar installations communicate with batteries, batteries with energy management systems, and energy management systems with the distribution system operator. As a result, the amount of data is growing explosively and connectivity between systems is becoming increasingly important.According to Peter De Ras, engineer at EME, this is where the biggest evolution of the mains decoupling panel lies. “You can buy the hardware,” he says, but “It's the software that makes the difference.”With eCON+, EME has therefore developed far more than a protection component. The platform brings communication, monitoring, remote control and data exchange together in one digital ecosystem. The result is a grid disconnection board that not only protects, but also connects.“Anyone can buy the hardware. But it's the software that makes the difference.”Peter De Ras — engineer at EMECurious what eCON+ actually does?Discover eCON+One platform for all communicationA modern decentral energy generation system today is often more complex than some solar panels, a few inverters and a mains decoupling panel. Batteries, inverters, energy management systems (EMS), Fluvius remote control, communication protocols and various measuring devices continuously exchange data. Each uses its own communication protocol, software and network. “The challenge is therefore to bring all those networks together so they can communicate with each other,” Peter explains.That is why EME developed eCON+ as a central communication platform. It acts as one intelligent hub that collects information, translates it and sends it to the right destination. This creates a reliable source of information for the electrical contractor, operator, EMS and the distribution system operator.eCON+ as a central hub: Fluvius, cloud, EMS, inverters and battery storage brought together in one platform.Fewer connections, fewer worries, lower installation costsIn traditional installations, different measuring devices and systems communicate directly with the EMS. Every additional connection increases complexity and makes an installation harder to manage. With eCON+, we want to relieve the customer of as much burden as possible, Peter explains: “We not only provide all energy meters, but also collect all relevant measurement data in the eCON+ platform. As a result, the EMS only needs to communicate with one system, regardless of how many measuring points, inverters or energy sources are present. Because we already integrate energy meters into the grid disconnection board ourselves, the contractor’s installation costs are significantly reduced.”This not only simplifies integration, but also increases the reliability of the entire installation. Because all data comes together in one place, measurements are consistent, available in real time and easy to exchange between all the systems involved.Always connected, without depending on the customer’s networkA digital installation is only as strong as its connection. In practice, however, a customer’s IT infrastructure often proves to be a barrier to fast commissioning or support. That is why EME deliberately chose a different approach.“eCON+ comes standard with its own 4G connection and communicates with the cloud via a secure VPN connection,” Peter explains. “As a result, no access to the customer’s corporate network is required, and the entire IT environment remains separate from the mains decoupling panel.”For installers, this means a much faster start-up. No complex IT configurations, firewall changes or fixed IP addresses are required. At the same time, this architecture increases cybersecurity and aligns with the new European Cyber Resilience Act (CRA).Questions about integrating this into your installation?Contact usAccessible information, wherever you areThe strength of eCON+ lies not only in collecting data, but above all in making it accessible. Via smartphone, tablet or PC, the installer, operator and EME always have access to the same up-to-date information. Alarms, measurement data, trend graphs and status information can be consulted anywhere, meaning support no longer depends on an on-site visit.Alarms, measurement data and status information can be consulted anywhere, including on a smartphone.Software updates and diagnostics can also be carried out remotely. “As a result, the platform not only stays up to date, but we can also add new functionalities without major modifications to the installation,” Peter says.Ready for the energy world of tomorrowThe energy transition is not standing still. New regulations, such as the Fluvius Telecontrol 5 communication protocol, increasingly intelligent EMS systems and stricter requirements around data exchange all call for a platform that can grow along with them. According to Peter, this was a guiding principle in the development of eCON+ from day one: “We did not only want to build a solution for today, but also a platform that is ready for what comes next.”That is why eCON+ supports both Fluvius Telecontrol 4 and Telecontrol 5 as standard, manages communication with EMS systems and automatically translates complex communication protocols into standardised data exchange. The result is a future-oriented platform that does not need to be redesigned every time the energy world evolves, but can simply be expanded and configured as new applications emerge.Ready for the next generation of mains decoupling panels?The energy world is becoming increasingly digital. New communication protocols, stricter regulations and more intelligent energy installations require a mains decoupling panel that does more than provide protection alone.With eCON+, you choose one future-oriented platform that brings communication, monitoring and data exchange together. This means you are ready not only for today’s challenges, but also for tomorrow’s.Discover all the possibilities of eCON+Curious to see how eCON+ can make your installations smarter, simpler and more future-proof? In the brochure, you will find a clear overview of all technical specifications, communication options and possible applications.Discover eCON+ and download the brochure

Why eCON+ quickly pays for itselfTwenty years ago, a mains decoupling panel had one essential function: to safely disconnect a decentral energy production installation as soon as the voltage or frequency moved outside the permitted limits. It still performs that task today, but the installation behind that grid disconnection has changed fundamentally. Solar parks are being combined with battery storage, energy management systems (EMS), combined heat and power units and remote control. Available power levels are increasing, grid codes are becoming stricter and downtime has an ever greater financial impact.According to Peter De Ras, engineer at EME and developer of eCON+, this evolution calls for a different view of mains decoupling.What does an intelligent mains decoupling panel do differently?Discover eCON+The energy transition places new demands on mains decoupling panels“A classic mains decoupling panel does exactly what it was designed to do. But today the expectations of installers and operators are much higher today,” Peter explains. “They want to know what is happening, why an installation switches off and how it can be brought back into operation as quickly as possible.” That is why he developed eCON+: an intelligent mains decoupling solution that combines the statutory Synergrid functionalities with monitoring, diagnostics and data processing.A fault only starts costing money when no one knows why it happenedAn installation that switches off safely is rarely the biggest problem. The real cost arises when no one notices that it is down, or when it takes days to identify the cause. “Sometimes installations fail and remain in fault for a week or even a month without the owner knowing. That means no yield for all that time,” Peter says. “When a technician is eventually called in, the search begins. Was it an abnormal grid voltage? A problem with the inverter? A faulty connection? Without historical data or context, the analysis is largely based on experience and elimination. And that is exactly where we want eCON+ to make the difference.”From error message to diagnosisA classic mains decoupling system tells you that the installation has been switched off. eCON+ also shows you why. The platform stores events, alarms and measurement data in chronological order and places them in the right context. Instead of a series of separate error messages, the installer receives a reconstruction of the full event. In doing so, eCON+ distinguishes between the actual cause of a fault and its consequences. Alarms are logically grouped, so as an installer you no longer have to interpret dozens of messages to reach the same conclusion.“It is no longer a matter of guesswork. You receive objective information about what happened. That makes a huge difference when you need to analyse a fault.”Peter De Ras — engineer at EMEFrom reactive to proactive workeCON+ continuously records voltages, currents, frequencies and power values and converts them into clear graphs and timelines. As a result, you not only see what happened at a specific moment, but also how the installation behaved beforehand.That historical context helps technicians to recognise patterns. Small voltage fluctuations, recurring deviations or changing load profiles become visible before they cause a fault. This shifts the focus from reactive to proactive work, from solving problems to preventing them.Responding intelligently to the energy marketThe available data not only helps analyse faults, it also helps control energy installations more intelligently. A good example is the increasingly common occurrence of negative electricity prices. When more electricity is produced than consumed, injecting energy into the grid can become financially disadvantageous. “eCON+ can automatically respond to negative electricity prices and help avoid unnecessary feed-in costs,” Peter explains. “That also illustrates how the role of a mains decoupling panel is changing. It is no longer limited to protection, but also helps optimise the economic performance of an installation.”Questions about eCON+ for your project?Contact usA successful intervention starts on the screenBecause eCON+ makes all relevant information available anywhere, technicians can analyse the situation before leaving for the installation. Is an intervention necessary? Which component deserves attention? Which material should you bring? This significantly increases the chances of an effective solution.Collaboration also becomes more efficient: the installer, the operator and the specialists at EME all have access to the same objective information. This eliminates discussions based on assumptions and allows them to decide more quickly which action is needed. For organisations that manage dozens of installations, this translates into a more efficient service organisation. Thanks to online monitoring, a technician does not have to go on site immediately for every notification. In many cases, a remote analysis is enough to identify the cause or prepare the right intervention.Developed from practical experienceWhat stands out is that eCON+ did not originate from a list of technical specifications, but from daily reality. “I asked myself: what are installers struggling with today?” Peter says. “What information do they need to work faster and better?”That starting point explains why EME chose one modular standard platform instead of developing a tailor-made solution. The platform is widely applicable, easy to configure and ready to evolve along with new grid codes and future extensions.Because all mains decoupling panels are built according to the same platform, installers do not have to learn a different working method or software every time. At the same time, the hardware remains standardised, which keeps delivery times short and maintenance simpler. For installers, this means less engineering, less complexity and more uniformity across different projects.An investment that keeps paying offWhere traditional mains decoupling reacts when something goes wrong, eCON+ helps installers understand problems faster, solve them more efficiently and even prevent them. In this way, the mains decoupling panel evolves from a protection component into an intelligent partner in the management of modern energy installations. Or, as Peter summarises it: “We developed eCON+ based on the question of what installers really need today. Not only to keep an installation operating safely, but also to manage it more intelligently and with a higher return.”Discover what eCON+ can do for your installationsCurious to find out what eCON+ can do for your projects? You will find all the functionalities, technical specifications and possible applications in our brochure.Download the brochure

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