The Chinese company Fox ESS started working with Kiwigrid in the beginning of 2024, their connection initially established through a mutual customer. Within a few months, this contact has developed into a profitable partnership for both sides. The partners aim to seamlessly link Fox ESS’ system components to Kiwigrid’s energy management system (EMS). For this, both companies regularly test various setups of Fox ESS systems in conjunction with Kiwigrid’s EMS, enabling ideal interaction between the system components and the electricity market.

A young Chinese company on the road to success

Fox ESS is a Chinese company that has quickly established itself as a global leader in the development of solar inverters and energy storage solutions since its foundation in 2019. The young company is on course for growth and regularly launches new products. In addition to its core business activity with inverters and battery storage systems, the company now also offers various wallbox models. They also plan to add heat pumps in the future. Fox ESS welcomes cooperation with leading providers of EMS solutions in order to be able to offer all customers an optimal solution in the future.

In April 2024, Kiwigrid visited the Fox ESS headquarters in Wenzhou, China, to meet the team and the managing director in person. On site, the Kiwigrid team was able to see the high quality of Fox ESS products for themselves. 

Close cooperation for smooth connectivity

Kiwigrid and Fox ESS used their time together in Wenzhou to work on existing joint use cases and plan future projects. To connect the products to the EMS, Kiwigrid first receives the Fox ESS hardware. A team of Kiwigrid's connectivity experts establishes the connection between the Fox ESS devices and the EMS and then tests this connectivity in different setups. Fox ESS regularly sends employees to Germany to support Kiwigrid on site.

The first Fox ESS hybrid inverters have already been successfully connected to Kiwigrid's EMS in this way. Work is currently underway to connect conventional inverters and the new Fox ESS wallbox to the EMS as well as to directly control energy storage systems.

Advantages for all sides

Fox ESS sells its hardware products and systems primarily to distributors and large business customers who install energy systems for end customers. Kiwigrid also sells its energy management solutions to these B2B customers, so that end customers not only receive hardware components such as PV systems, heat pumps and wallboxes, but also a suitable EMS that intelligently networks the various devices in the household. Kiwigrid's customers benefit from the connectivity partnership with Fox ESS in that they can rest assured that Fox ESS products can easily communicate with Kiwigrid's energy management software.

Fox ESS also benefits from the partnership: Kiwigrid's reputation within the industry and the company's many years of experience and expertise in the energy market make it easier for the young Chinese company to gain a foothold in Germany. For example, German companies face the major challenge of compliance with §14a Energy Industry Act (EnWG) and the integration of dynamic tariffs into energy management. The cooperation with Kiwigrid enables Fox ESS to offer certified setups on the German market that are compatible with these requirements.
Future plans

The hybrid inverters are already successfully connected. Kiwigrid and Fox ESS are moving forward and are now working on connecting PV inverters and wallboxes from Fox ESS to Kiwigrid's EMS. Kiwigrid will receive new products launched by Fox ESS, such as the Fox ESS heat pump, ahead of time to ensure they can be connected to Kiwigrid’s EMS soon after their official launch.

The partners plan to offer a selection of predefined setups, e.g. consisting of a Fox ESS inverter, a Fox ESS energy storage system and a Fox ESS wallbox in combination with Kiwigrid's EMS. These will be thoroughly tested in advance and then distributed as pre-validated setups. The use of standard setups reduces the complexity of the installation, reduces sources of error and increases the reliability of the system.

 

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