Zendure HEMS: Everything You Need to Know

HEMS (Home Energy Management System) is an integrated residential energy control platform that leverages the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies to coordinate the operation of household electrical loads, photovoltaic (PV) systems, energy storage systems (ESS), and the utility grid. Its core objective is to optimize energy utilization, reduce electricity costs, and enhance operational safety within the home environment.

What is Zendure HEMS?

Zendure's latest Home Energy Management System (HEMS) leverages AI to intelligently optimize household energy usage.  At its core is Zenki, an AI-powered engine that dynamically manages energy production, storage, and consumption to help users reduce electricity costs.

The system offers three operating modes: Zenki Mode (AI-powered forecasting), Auto Mode, and Expert Mode, allowing users to choose optimization strategies based on their preferences.

Zendure HEMS continuously pulls dynamic electricity pricing from hundreds of utility providers and combines it with weather forecasts and historical data to predict energy production, consumption, and storage behavior over 24 hours—guiding users toward energy independence and waste reduction.

Zenki also incorporates smart meters to manage the charge and discharge cycles of connected storage systems efficiently. After being safely installed by a licensed electrician, the system can support a maximum output of up to 7,200W, with up to six expandable storage units, offering increased capacity and flexibility.

In short, Zendure HEMS provides a user-friendly platform for real-time monitoring and intelligent scheduling of household energy flow. By aligning consumption with pricing, and production trends, it enables lower energy costs, improved system reliability, and smarter energy management.

Zendure HEMS Compatibility -Data Monitoring & Device Management

Solar: Solar energy systems, such as rooftop photovoltaic÷(PV), are often the first step toward adopting a Home Energy Management System(HEMS). They enable households to reduce reliance on the utility grid and fluctuating electricity prices by powering energy-consuming assets with locally generated renewable energy.

• ● MPPT data from energy storage systems；
• ● AC-coupled solar input via energy storage systems

Home Usage: Zendure HEMS supports monitoring the overall household energy consumption through various sensors:

• ● Smart plugs: Monitors the power consumption of specific household load
• ● Smart meters track the total household electricity consumption
• ● Users can also manually input the base load data.

Energy Storage Devices: An energy storage system typically consists of an inverter and battery modules. HEMS enables users to monitor all connected storage devices in the system, including the number of battery units, real-time total charge/discharge power, and the average State of Charge (SoC) of the batteries.

• ● Total Output/Input: Displays the real-time charge or discharge power of the entire energy storage system to or from the household load.
• ● Outlet Load: If the system includes an off-grid socket (EPS function), HEMS also supports real-time monitoring of the off-grid output power.

Grid: When integrated with a smart meter, Zendure HEMS can monitor the bidirectional power flow between the household and the utility grid. It shows how much electricity the home has imported from the grid, as well as how much surplus solar energy has been exported to the grid.

Other Loads: Zendure plans to support more household loads in the future to further optimize solar utilization, grid interaction, and home appliance scheduling, enhancing overall user energy benefits.

• ● Heat Pumps: Electrically driven and highly efficient heating systems that extract heat from external sources rather than generate it. They can be powered by local PV generation and are becoming a common component of HEMS-controlled systems.
• ● Electric Vehicles (EVs): EVs are flexible energy-consuming assets. As they typically remain idle for long periods, charging sessions can be shifted to coincide with high solar production or low grid tariffs. Vehicles must be connected via wall boxes or other smart EV chargers integrated with HEMS.
• ● White Goods: Appliances such as washing machines, refrigerators, etc., can also be intelligently controlled—either through smart plugs or cloud-based control—to optimize their electricity consumption based on system energy status.

Zendure Plug-in Solar Storage: The Powerhouse Behind Your Smart Home Energy System

What is Zendure SolarFlow 800 Pro

The SolarFlow 800 Pro is an AC-coupled energy storage system, designed for bidirectional grid interaction, connection to photovoltaic modules, battery integration, and intelligent energy scheduling. It is ideally suited to serve as the core hardware platform for a Home Energy Management System (HEMS).

With rising electricity demand from electric vehicles, heat pumps, and other high-consumption appliances—alongside dynamic tariffs and evolving grid policies—the combination of HEMS and the SolarFlow 800 Pro enables greater energy independence, lower costs, and smarter home energy management.

Features and working principles of SolarFlow 800 Pro

SolarFlow 800 Pro is an all-in-one residential energy solution that integrates MPPT charge controllers, a bidirectional inverter, and a battery storage system. It features four independent MPPT inputs, each supporting up to 660W solar panels, enabling a maximum total DC input capacity of 2640W.

The system includes a built-in 1000W bidirectional inverter that supports both battery charging from solar or AC grid power (up to 1000W) and off-grid AC output (up to 1000W, or 800W when grid-tied). It comes standard with a 1.92kWh lithium battery pack, expandable with up to five additional modules for a maximum capacity of 11.52kWh.

Dual-mode operation (grid-tied and off-grid) allows SolarFlow 800 Pro to intelligently manage energy flows: during the day, solar energy powers household loads, with surplus stored in the battery or exported to the grid. At night or during low solar production, the battery discharges to support household demand. In the event of a grid outage, the system switches to off-grid mode in approximately 20 ms, seamlessly powering essential loads via the backup AC outlet.

Integrated with an AI-based Home Energy Management System (HEMS), the SolarFlow 800 Pro optimizes charge/discharge schedules based on household consumption patterns, time-of-use electricity pricing, and weather forecasts. HEMS prioritizes battery charging during off-peak hours and discharging during peak rate periods, thereby maximizing solar self-consumption and minimizing electricity costs.

Users can monitor real-time system performance via the companion mobile app, which provides intuitive insights into solar generation, battery status, and load consumption while allowing for manual or automated control of operating modes. 

Step by Step: Integrate the SolarFlow 800 Pro into the HEMS

To add the SolarFlow 800 Pro to the HEMS, use the official Zendure app. After opening the app, tap on "Add Device" and select "SolarFlow 800 Pro". Open the app, tap "Add Device", and select "SolarFlow 800 Pro". The system will automatically scan for nearby devices (you can also manually refresh the list). Once your device is detected, follow the on-screen instructions to complete pairing and setup.

After successful pairing, the app will guide you through the process of creating a new HEMS environment and walk you through the necessary initialization steps.

Note: Before adding the device, ensure that both the app and the SolarFlow 800 Pro firmware are updated to versions that support HEMS integration (App version V5.6.0 or higher, firmware version V1.0.4 or higher)

Once configured, the SolarFlow 800 Pro will appear in the HEMS dashboard as an Energy Storage unit, integrated with other energy components such as the SolarFlow 2400 AC, smart meters. Unified scheduling of multiple Zendure storage products—including SolarFlow 800, SolarFlow 800 Pro, and SolarFlow 2400 AC, enabling centralized management and coordination across the entire home energy ecosystem.

Functions and Benefits after Integrate

Once the device is connected to the HEMS, users can view a real-time energy flow diagram in the app, providing a clear overview of solar generation, household electricity consumption, battery status, off-grid socket loads, and grid import/export power. For example, the interface shows the current solar generation power, SOC, and the power being supplied to home appliances or fed back to the grid via the socket.

Under the control of the HEMS (Home Energy Management System), the SolarFlow 800 Pro integrates with rooftop solar PV and household loads to form a smart energy network. Once integrated, the system intelligently allocates energy flows in real time: on sunny days, solar power generated by the rooftop panels is prioritized for household consumption. Any surplus energy is first directed to charge the storage battery.

During evening hours or at night when electricity prices are higher, the HEMS prioritizes discharging the battery to supply household loads, thereby minimizing grid power consumption. During off-peak tariff periods, the system automatically charges the battery in preparation for the following day. Throughout this process, energy flows are continuously monitored and optimized by the HEMS to maximize both economic return and energy efficiency.

HEMS offers multiple operating modes to meet the needs of different users:

• ● ZENKI Mode: This is the AI-driven mode of the HEMS. It leverages weather forecasts, historical user consumption patterns, real-time loads, and electricity price signals to dynamically schedule charging and discharging with minimal manual intervention.

Zenki Mode Illustration	Data Prediction Chart	Revenue Statistics Chart 1	Revenue Statistics Chart 2

• ● Auto Mode: In this mode, the HEMS operates based on predefined time-of-use (ToU) electricity pricing strategies. It follows a fixed decision-marking logic and user-defined parameters to automatically select the most suitable mode and settings for the current installation environment. For instance, it can be set to discharge during peak pricing periods and charge during off-peak hours—automatically optimizing operation without user input.

• ● Expert Mode: This mode allows users to define custom energy strategies, such as specifying battery charging windows, discharge schedules, or grid export thresholds. It provides maximum flexibility for households with specific energy preferences or requirements.

•  - Smart Meter Mode: Designed for households equipped with smart CT clamps or advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) that monitor whole-house electricity consumption. In this mode, HEMS adjusts the charging and discharging behavior of the energy storage system based on real-time household demand detected by the CT sensors.

Electricity Price-Based Charging Chart

Charging Strategy Selection Interface

Surplus Power Charging Diagram

•  - Smart Plug Mode: Tailored for households that only use smart plugs to monitor major appliances. HEMS estimates total household demand by combining data from smart plugs and baseline load profiles, then controls the charge/discharge cycles of the system accordingly.

•  - Base Load Mode: Allows users to manually configure time-based charging and discharging schedules. This mode is ideal for users who have a clear understanding of their daily energy usage patterns and prefer to define operating hours for their system.

Base Load and Charging Settings Diagram

•  - Electricity Pricing Mode: HEMS follows real-time electricity tariffs for optimized operation—charging during low-price periods and discharging during high-price periods—to maximize cost savings based on time-of-use (ToU) or spot market pricing.

Advantages of Intelligent Integration between HEMS and SolarFlow 800 Pro:

• ● Electricity Cost Reduction: By leveraging HEMS for intelligent energy optimization, households can maximize the use of low-tariff grid electricity and self-generated solar power, significantly reducing electricity bills. The system automatically charges during off-peak periods and discharges during peak demand, effectively performing time-of-use arbitrage.
• ● Environmental Sustainability: Utilizing stored solar energy during peak grid demand periods reduces reliance on fossil fuel-based electricity, contributing to carbon emission reductions and a greener energy footprint.
• ● Enhanced Energy Utilization Efficiency: HEMS continuously monitors the household’s energy flow to minimize waste. For instance, when there is a sudden increase in load, the system can rapidly allocate power from battery reserves or draw supplementary power from the grid, ensuring stable operation without exceeding system limits.
• ● Dynamic Pricing Optimization: HEMS supports integration with over 700 dynamic tariff providers, enabling automated tariff-aware scheduling. When negative electricity pricing occurs (e.g., nighttime surplus or regional incentives), the system maximizes benefit by charging the battery at full power, allowing users to profit from “negative pricing arbitrage.”
• ● Optimized User Experience: Through the Zendure App, users gain full visibility into real-time PV generation, household consumption, and battery status. Customizable settings such as time-based discharge restrictions empower users to align energy usage with personal routines. The intuitive app interface, coupled with historical analytics, ensures transparent, user-friendly energy management. HEMS autonomously executes these strategies to simplify user engagement.

In addition to real-time visualization, the HEMS offers advanced energy management features and historical data analytics. Users can:

• ● Set total power limits for the system
• ● Enable CT-based smart mode to automatically balance household demand
• ● Review historical charts of energy generation and consumption
• ● Analyze statistical performance metrics over time

In summary, once integrated, the HEMS enables comprehensive energy management—from real-time visualizations of energy flow to precise power control and economic performance evaluation, all within a unified platform.

Safe Power Setting and Review Mechanism

During the initial HEMS setup, the system requires to define a safe power limit to ensure electrical safety. For output settings between 0 and 3000W, users must sign within the app to confirm and agree to this power setting.

If the desired output exceeds 3000W, the system mandates an on-site inspection by a certified electrician. The electrician must upload valid qualification documents through the app before the power setting can be activated.

The 3000W mark serves as the national safety threshold—any value above this requires manual review and confirmation. Only after the required confirmation—either via user signature or professional validation—can the new power limit take effect. This dual-layer review mechanism helps prevent overload risks and ensures household electrical safety in multi-device environments.

Usage Scenario Example

• ● Sunny Day with Excess Solar Generation: For example, during midday in the summer, when solar irradiance is high, the PV output exceeds the household load demand. HEMS will instruct the SolarFlow 800 Pro to prioritize supplying power to home appliances, while surplus energy is directed to fully charge the battery system.
• ● High Electricity Price Period: During peak electricity pricing hours (e.g., nighttime), HEMS ensures the battery is fully charged during off-peak hours to discharge during peak demand. Users can customize discharge thresholds (e.g., “discharge only during peak tariff windows”) to ensure stored energy is used when grid power is most expensive.
• ● Extended Overcast Weather or Grid Instability: In continuous rainy or cloudy conditions, when PV generation drops, HEMS intelligently balances remaining battery reserves and grid power to maintain supply for critical household loads (e.g., refrigerators, medical devices). In the event of a power outage, the SolarFlow 800 Pro’s off-grid AC output (up to 1000W) provides emergency backup for essential devices such as lighting and communications.
• ● Extended Overcast Weather or Grid Instability: In continuous rainy or cloudy conditions, when PV generation drops, HEMS intelligently balances remaining battery reserves and grid power to maintain supply for critical household loads (e.g., refrigerators, medical devices). In the event of a power outage, the SolarFlow 800 Pro’s off-grid AC output (up to 1000W) provides emergency backup for essential devices such as lighting and communications.

SolarFlow 800 Pro VS SolarFlow 2400 AC

The SolarFlow 800 Pro uses a MPPT-based architecture, featuring DC-coupled PV inputs and an integrated bidirectional inverter. It integrates MPPT charge controllers and a battery, supporting four independent MPPT inputs with a total PV power of up to 2640W. This design makes it ideal for plug-and-play balcony PV applications, allowing panels to feed generation and storage directly.

In practice, the SolarFlow 2400 AC adopts an AC-coupled architecture and does not include a DC PV input port. It connects to the home grid via a standard power outlet and, when a rooftop PV system is present, enables surplus solar energy to be stored in the battery. The system relies on a CT-based smart energy meter (e.g., Zendure 3CT or Shelly Pro 3EM) to continuously monitor household consumption and PV generation in real-time. It automatically detects solar surplus and load demand, intelligently coordinating battery charging and discharging accordingly.

• ● Access method: The SolarFlow 800 Pro connects PV panels via its DC MPPT ports, whereas the SolarFlow 2400 AC plugs into an AC circuit and works in conjunction with micro-inverters.
• ● Dispatch logic: Under HEMS, the SolarFlow 800 Pro prioritizes self-consumption, storing surplus solar energy during the day and discharging at night or during high-price periods. The SolarFlow 2400 AC uses real-time meter data for scheduled control, charging during off-peak hours and discharging on-peak to minimize energy costs.
• ● Topology: The SolarFlow 800 Pro’s integrated design creates a DC-coupled system combining PV input, inverter, and storage. In contrast, the SolarFlow 2400 AC is an AC inverter module that relies on external solar arrays or CT sensors, forming an AC-coupled system.

SolarFlow 2400 AC is thus ideal for upgrading a home’s main PV system, offering seamless off-grid backup, tariff-driven energy scheduling, and automatic PV/load coordination.

Typical APP Usage Case: AC-coupled with Rooftop PV(SolarFlow 2400AC)

For households with existing rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems but no battery storage, AC-coupled energy storage provides a fast and cost-effective upgrade path. The SolarFlow 2400 AC, as an AC-coupled battery storage solution, can be installed simply by plugging it into a standard wall socket—without any modification to the existing PV wiring—dramatically reducing installation complexity and cost. Once integrated with the Home Energy Management System (HEMS), the system intelligently manages charge and discharge cycles based on household load profiles and real-time electricity pricing. This not only improves solar self-consumption and reduces electricity bills, but also enables emergency power supply (EPS) functionality during grid outages. The following scenarios, featuring everyday users such as Mr. Zhang and Ms. Li, illustrate how the HEMS app enhances energy control and economic benefits in real residential environments.

• Scenario 1: Surplus PV Generation → Automatic Storage

On a sunny midday weekend, Mr. Zhang’s rooftop PV generates more power than the home consumes. In the original system without storage, the excess would just export to the grid. With the SolarFlow 2400 AC AC-coupled storage added, the smart meter detects the export and automatically charges the battery. With the HEMS app set to auto mode, the surplus energy is swiftly stored, significantly increasing self-consumption and reducing Mr. Zhang’s electricity bill.

• Scenario 2: Peak Tariff Discharge to Save Costs

Ms. Li notices that nighttime rates are low while daytime peak rates are high. In the HEMS app, she sets a strategy to charge the battery during off-peak hours and discharge during peak prices. The SolarFlow 2400 AC automatically charges when rates are low and supplies home loads from the battery when rates spike. This means Ms. Li avoids buying expensive peak power from the grid, significantly lowering her electricity cost. She can also view the energy flow and cumulative savings in the app’s charts, giving her a clear understanding of the energy-efficiency gains.

• Scenario 3: Grid Outage → Auto Switch to EPS

One night during a power outage, Mr. Wang finds that his router and refrigerator keep running as usual. The SolarFlow 2400 AC automatically switches to off-grid mode within 20 ms of detecting the grid failure. The battery then becomes an emergency power supply (EPS), powering critical loads. The HEMS app shows the backup power status in real-time, allowing Mr. Wang to monitor the system’s operation and confidently weather the outage.

• Scenario 4: Strategy Settings – Min SOC, No-Discharge Periods

Ms. Li uses the HEMS app’s strategy settings to set the battery’s minimum state of charge to 20% and to forbid discharge from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. This ensures that even during several days of bad weather or at night, the battery retains enough reserve for emergencies. The system strictly follows these settings – it will never discharge below the set SOC and will automatically disable discharge during the no-discharge period.

• Scenario 5: Viewing Savings and Cost Reduction via App Charts

After several months of operating the SolarFlow 2400 AC, Mr. Chen reviews his performance data via the HEMS app’s energy analytics dashboard. The charts display his rooftop PV generation, household energy consumption, and grid import/export profiles, along with cumulative energy savings and cost reductions. The availability of real-time, granular data allows him to quantify the system’s energy efficiency gains and motivates further optimization of his consumption behavior.

Goals

The goal of a home energy management system is to cover the energy demand of a household while minimizing costs and/or emissions. Typically, a HEMS reduces costs and emissions by maximizing the utilization of renewable energy as it aligns consumption with times when renewable energy is available.

Use cases

Every household has its individual needs. Thus the use cases and applications may vary to fit specific demands. Home Energy Management Systems can start with a basic setup involving a few assets and then become more complex to enable more savings.

• ● Monitoring – gaining real-time data and visualization of the operational behavior, site-specific details, and status of all connected assets.
• ● Self-sufficiency optimization – maximizing the amount of self-generated power that is used to power the remaining assets in a home to minimize costs and emissions.
• ● Time-of-use tariffs (ToU) – shifting the electricity consumption of connected DERs, such as heat pumps and electric vehicles, to times of low prices.
• ● Flexibility Marketing – monetizing the flexibility of assets by feeding energy back into the grid if there is excess power, for example, stored in the battery, according to varying electricity prices and grid capacity.
• ● Larger use cases - HEMS is the building block that enables larger-scale future energy use cases such as smart districts (energy is connected and optimized across a larger area), virtual power plants (the flexibility of multiple energy assets is aggregated and monetized by participating in wholesale markets) or energy communities (energy is shared via peer-to-peer trading).