Amber&GoodWe VPP integration initial limited release announcement

1. Status summary

Amber and GoodWe are pleased to announce that the beta testing of 11 sites was done successfully. The testing was done over two months with successful results demonstrating strong performance, stability and customer satisfaction. 

2. Background Information

As part of Amber's integration strategy, new partner device integrations are typically validated across hundreds of sites before a public release. This ensures better customer experiance and stability. 

To ensure a quality and controlled integration beta process, Amber has a waitlist for prospective sites to register their interest. GoodWe customers are encouraged to sign up to Amber's waitlist using the link below.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdRCPqFjWMKPrvZk9QH3XTRXHz09jR7JDdoeE_muUlAKvaipA/viewform

Amber will progressively onboard customers from the waitlist while monitoring performance of existing systems.

Onboarding Process for Amber

3. List of Supported Models

The following is the list of GoodWe device models supported for joining Amber; only devices within this range are compatible with Amber.

4. Required App version 

Since GoodWe has released some new functions for VPP integration function ,

We recommend that you update to the latest APP version of SEMS+ 2.1.3 for better support of related features.

5. Amber Fact Sheet

SmartShift is Amber’s price-responsive battery automation. It responds to real wholesale electricity prices every 5 minutes, with the goal of improving customer outcomes over time. It is not designed to constantly cycle the battery or chase marginal short-term revenue.

What is SmartShift？

    •Optimises for customer value over time, not maximum daily export

    •Is dynamic and price driven, rather than schedule driven

    •Is not a traditional VPP and does not lock customers into fixed control events

SmartShift is designed to balance battery wear, efficiency, and long-term customer outcomes

More detail here:

What is Amber’s SmartShift and how does it differ from a VPP

How SmartShift treats exports

Even in Earnings Optimiser mode, SmartShift does not aim to export at every positive price. Lower feed-in prices are often not attractive once battery efficiency, wear, and opportunity cost are considered. As a general guide, SmartShift tends to prioritise higher-value export events rather than frequent low-value cycling.

This means

    •The battery is not endlessly charged and discharged

    •Some ‘demand window’ periods may be skipped if value is marginal

    •Behaviour can appear quiet at times, intentionally

Note: Customers can manually choose to charge, discharge, turn off automation and preserve charge whenever they want. We will discuss this further below.

To get an understanding of how Amber looks in practice, please watch this walkthrough video.

Pricing model context

Amber customers pay and earn the real wholesale market price, which changes every 5 minutes. Prices can be volatile, including negative periods and extreme spikes. Amber does not mark up energy prices. Amber’s revenue from the customer comes from a $25 per month subscription, so SmartShifts decisions are aligned to improve customer outcomes over time.

Wholesale pricing explained here:

How Amber’s wholesale prices work

Battery access and control

Customers choose how much of their battery SmartShift can access and can change this at any time. Automation can be paused or overridden whenever needed.

Details here:

How much of my battery energy can Amber access

Customers who stay on Amber longer tend to see

    •Better exposure to seasonal price swings

    •More high-value events over time

    •Clearer understanding of how their system performs in the market

Automation modes are covered here for deeper reading:

What’s the difference between Amber for Batteries’ two automation modes

Key message for customers

SmartShift is about patience, transparency, and long-term optimisation. It is not a promise of constant exporting or guaranteed daily earnings, we aim to empower customers to stay in control while optimising their system for the best possible outcomes over time.

For any Amber related enquires, please email info@amber.com.au. 

6. Customers who have access to register on Amber and pass authorization on GoodWe app successfully?

A：Only when the customer is the owner of the power station can register on Amber and pass authorization successfully. 

So, Please verify whether you are alreay the actual owner of the station.

 If not, please contact your installer to update your role to be owner. Then start to register through Amber.