Net metering in the Netherlands is coming to an end. How is Sungrow adapting its Benelux strategy to help households consume more of their own electricity and get more value from their PV systems?
Sungrow is responding by bringing PV, energy storage, EV charging and intelligent energy management together in one portfolio. That is also why we chose Benelux as the first European market for PowerHarbor: the system is now available in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, ahead of the end of Dutch net metering on 1 January 2027. With smart energy management and, where applicable, dynamic electricity tariffs, households can store more of their own solar energy and decide when it is used, rather than exporting it at low value.
Benelux is not one uniform market: grid tariffs, incentives and consumer behaviour differ between the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. Which country-specific opportunities and challenges matter most for Sungrow over the next year?
In the Netherlands, the opportunity is the very large installed base of residential PV, much of which can benefit from storage as net metering ends. The challenge is timing: many households will make decisions within a short period, so installers need trained teams and available products. Grid congestion also makes smart, flexible energy use more important. Belgium is more fragmented, with different market and grid conditions in Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels. Installers need clear, region-specific guidance on how to configure a system and what value it can deliver. Luxembourg is smaller, but incentives for storage and home energy management systems (HEMS) make integrated solutions particularly attractive. Our approach is therefore one strong product platform, combined with a commercial strategy adapted to each market.
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PowerHarbor combines inverter, battery, backup and AI energy management in one system. What customer and installer problems was the product specifically designed to solve in the Benelux market?
We focused on three problems we hear most often in Benelux. The first is the value of solar energy. As net metering ends in the Netherlands, exporting surplus solar power at low prices makes less sense. PowerHarbor stores more of that energy and uses it when prices are high. The second is changing household needs. Many families add an EV or a heat pump a few years after installing solar. PowerHarbor grows with them: modules can be added and combined over time, up to 120 kWh, without replacing existing batteries. The third is time on site for installers. EnergyBridge integrates five backup components in one unit that fits inside a standard distribution box and installs in around 20 seconds. Energy management is handled by iHomeManager Mini, a plug-in terminal, so no separate EMS box is needed.
How do you demonstrate the real economic value of PowerHarbor’s AI Mode to homeowners, especially when electricity prices and tariff structures can change rapidly?
We don’t promise a single fixed saving figure, because the value depends on each household’s consumption, PV generation, battery size and tariff. Instead, we show homeowners how the system makes its decisions. AI Mode combines weather forecasts, consumption patterns and dynamic tariffs to decide when to charge, discharge or use energy directly. Through the iSolarCloud app, homeowners can see what the system is doing and why, and adjust it if they wish. So the value comes from continuous optimisation as prices change, not from one fixed tariff assumption.
At your recent Amsterdam event, installers and virtual power plant (VPP) integrators were key participants. What feedback did you receive from them, and what did it reveal about the barriers still slowing wider adoption of home storage?
The feedback was very practical. Installers told us that the biggest barrier is not a lack of interest in storage, but three practical issues: installation complexity and time on site, the need for clear product training, and confidence in local technical and after-sales support. VPP and energy partners raised a different point: interoperability. For residential storage to take part in flexibility services, systems need to communicate reliably with partners’ platforms. Our response covers all of these areas: simpler system architecture such as EnergyBridge, installer training and local support, and continued work with energy and VPP partners on integration.
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The event also featured PowerKeeper and MiniCube alongside PowerHarbor. What were the main outcomes of the summit, and how will these insights shape Sungrow’s product roadmap and channel strategy for Benelux in 2027?
The main outcome was the official start of PowerHarbor sales in Europe, with Benelux as its first market. We also showed how our portfolio covers different needs: PowerHarbor for homes that want a scalable all-in-one system; MiniCube for apartments, townhouses and other space-constrained homes; and PowerKeeper for commercial applications. The feedback from installers and VPP partners will directly shape our 2027 plans in Benelux: simpler installation, more installer training, stronger local technical support and deeper integration with VPP platforms. We will share more about our product plans in due course.
Interview by Hans-Christoph Neidlein
