The future of the mains decoupling panel lies in digitalisation

Why connectivity is becoming at least as important as protection

Energy 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 EME

One platform for all communication

A 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.

Fewer connections, fewer worries, lower installation costs

In 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 network

A 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).

Accessible information, wherever you are

The 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.

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 tomorrow

The 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.