GoodWe ESA systems now compatible with Amber's SmartShift

GoodWe and Amber have launched their highly anticipated integration, unlocking Amber’s SmartShift technology for compatible GoodWe ESA home energy storage systems.

Australian households in ACT, NSW, SA, SE QLD and VIC with eligible GoodWe ESA battery systems now have a new way to put their stored energy to work.

The integration between GoodWe and Amber is now publicly available. It follows extensive development, testing, and a staged beta program between the two companies.

The integration connects compatible GoodWe ESA systems with Amber for Batteries and its SmartShift technology. This gives households access to wholesale electricity prices, automated battery optimisation, and wholesale feed-in tariffs.

For existing GoodWe owners, the announcement is particularly significant. Eligible systems already installed in Australian homes can gain access to SmartShift without replacing their existing battery hardware.

Turning a GoodWe battery into a smarter energy asset

Amber takes a different approach to traditional electricity retailing and virtual power plants (VPPs).

Rather than offering fixed electricity and feed-in tariff rates, Amber gives customers direct access to wholesale electricity pricing. Its current subscription costs $25 per month, with no retail markup applied to electricity usage.

For battery owners, SmartShift adds automated battery management to that wholesale pricing model.

SmartShift considers forecast household consumption, expected solar generation, and wholesale electricity prices. It then creates and regularly updates a personalised plan for the household's battery.

This allows a compatible GoodWe system to charge when electricity is cheaper and discharge when electricity becomes more valuable. It can also export stored energy when wholesale feed-in tariffs rise.

Exporting a battery's stored energy back to the grid can mean real savings and earnings for households. When wholesale prices rise, so does the feed-in tariff, and Amber doesn't take a cut of that revenue. Everything a customer's battery earns stays with them and goes straight towards bringing their costs down.

What the integration means for existing GoodWe customers

The integration creates an additional opportunity for households that have already invested in compatible GoodWe ESA energy storage.

Instead of operating solely around self-consumption or fixed charging schedules, eligible systems can respond dynamically to changing wholesale market conditions.

This can be particularly valuable when wholesale prices move significantly throughout the day.

GoodWe and Amber announce the integration alongside distributor Greentech. (L to R) Dean Williamson - GoodWe, Sam Groves - Greentech, Carlos Garcia - Amber.

When electricity is abundant and prices fall, SmartShift can identify opportunities to charge the battery. When demand rises and wholesale prices increase, stored energy can help avoid higher grid prices or be exported.

SmartShift also considers the individual household rather than simply applying identical commands across every battery in its network.

Importantly, customers retain control. Amber allows users to override SmartShift through its app, including options to charge, discharge, or preserve battery capacity.

“GoodWe customers have been asking us about Amber compatibility for some time, so we’re excited to see this integration become widely available,” said Dean Williamson, Country Manager for GoodWe Australia and New Zealand.

“Australians have made a significant investment in home energy storage, and they increasingly expect their battery to do more than simply store excess solar. This integration gives eligible GoodWe customers another way to use their system intelligently, respond to real energy market conditions, and potentially unlock greater value from the energy they generate and store.”

“It also reflects where the Australian energy market is heading. Smarter, connected energy systems can give households greater control while helping distributed energy resources respond more effectively to conditions across the grid.”

Tim Barson, Amber’s Partnerships Manager, says, 

“We’ve built SmartShift in the world’s leading home battery market, and one thing we’ve learned is that people want more choice in how they use the battery they’ve invested in. GoodWe is already in more than 100,000 Australian homes, and we’ve heard from plenty of those owners who want to use SmartShift. We’re really pleased we can now give them that option.”

From successful beta testing to public availability

This release follows a staged testing and validation process between GoodWe and Amber.

An initial beta testing involving more than 350 GoodWe sites was successfully completed following months of testing. GoodWe and Amber subsequently expanded access while monitoring system performance ahead of broader availability.

The integration currently supports GoodWe ESA home energy storage configurations. Customers should confirm their individual system through Amber's compatibility and enrolment process before switching.

The integration also builds on GoodWe's growing focus on connected home energy management. It allows compatible GoodWe hardware to participate in an increasingly dynamic electricity market through third-party energy services.

How GoodWe customers can join Amber

For new Amber customers, getting started begins by signing up with Amber as their electricity retailer. Once registered, customers provide details about their GoodWe system so Amber can confirm compatibility and begin device enrolment.

Existing Amber customers can start the process through the Devices section of the Amber app.

Customers may also need to authorise Amber to communicate with their GoodWe system. Their inverter must be online, and compatible systems should use the latest recommended GoodWe software and firmware.

Customers who already participate in another VPP or battery optimisation program may need to leave that service before enrolling.

Amber advises that device enrolment can take up to 10 business days after system details are provided. Metering changes or other site requirements may extend this timeframe.

More control over when energy is bought, stored, and sold

Australia's rapid uptake of household batteries is changing what consumers expect from their home energy systems. A battery can already increase solar self-consumption and provide greater energy independence. Connecting that battery to dynamic energy pricing creates another potential source of value.

For GoodWe households, the new Amber integration means compatible hardware can automatically respond to wholesale market conditions without owners constantly watching electricity prices themselves.

Amber charges a $25 monthly subscription fee with no lock-in contract. With the GoodWe integration now available, existing and new GoodWe customers will have another option for taking greater control of how their stored energy works for them.

Find out more

GoodWe customers interested in Amber for Batteries can check their system compatibility and sign up through Amber. GoodWe customers without an ESA system can join the Amber waitlist here.

We’ll be at All Energy Australia at MCEC in Melbourne on 28 and 29 October, and welcome anyone who wants to come along and have a chat. Tickets can be purchased here. GoodWe will be at Stand EE135, and the Amber team will be at The Amber Brewhouse located directly opposite Doors 9 and 10.