EcoFlow brings new residential, C&I and plug-in storage to Intersolar

EcoFlow has unveiled a raft of new products for the European market at a launch event that put backwards compatibility and AI-powered energy management high on the agenda.

The manufacturer has brought a new residential energy storage product, commercial and industrial (C&I) battery, plug-in storage range, and updated energy management system to The Smarter E exhibition in Munich.

EcoFlow introduced its new Ocean 2 8 kWh battery, which is compatible with existing PowerOcean and Ocean 2 systems. EcoFlow’s Ocean 2 range now comprises three-phase and single-phase options and has scalable capacity ranging from 8 kWh to 96 kWh.

Ocean 2 batteries use EcoFlow’s new 314 Ah cell, which the manufacturer said increases energy density by 58%, while retaining compatibility with all EcoFlow battery packs and all models of hybrid inverters (3-29.9 kW). Up to six batteries can be connected in series in one tower and can be expanded to two towers (12 batteries) via junction box. The peak 96 kWh capacity is achieved by connecting Ocean 2 three-phase with 12 Ocean 2 LFP batteries.  

Ocean 2 LFP battery is available as a 5 kWh or 8 kWh stackable energy storage system which can be installed on a floor stand or as a wall-mounted battery. Up to six batteries can be stacked in the floor arrangement and up to three when wall mounted.

The 5 kWh battery has a usable capacity of 4.87 kWh, a nominal charging power of 2.5 kW and nominal discharging power of 3.4 kW – with a maximum discharging power of 4.08 kW. The 8 kWh has usable capacity of 7.76 kWh, 4.1 kW nominal charging and discharging power, and maximum discharging power of 6.4 kW.

Cooling varies by capacity, with the 5 kWh variant using natural cooling, while the 8 kWh version is equipped with an air-cooling system.

The new residential battery also features a pack-level DC-DC architecture, which the manufacturer said results in 28.6% greater available capacity compared to low-voltage series. EcoFlow’s new residential battery is rated for more than 10,000 cell battery cell cycles, and offers up to 0.8 C discharge rate.

EcoFlow Ocean 2 has a footprint of less than 0.13 m² and a battery thickness of 196 mm. The batteries hold an IP66 rating and can be installed indoors or outdoors, according to the manufacturer. Each variant offers backup power functionality and energy management through EcoFlow’s Oasis 3.0 platform.

AI EMS

Oasis 3.0 is the latest iteration of EcoFlow’s home energy management platform and the supplier said the new version is designed to analyze variables such as electricity tariffs, weather forecasts, household consumption patterns and device status to automate energy management and optimize system performance.

EcoFlow has also launched its EcoFlow EcoBot to European markets. Described as an AI-powered energy assistant that allows users to interact with their home energy system “using natural language”, the digital assistant can be used to adjust settings, create energy plans and will also offer recommendations.

Plug-in storage

EcoFlow has further expanded its residential offer to European consumers with the launch of its new Stream 2 plug-in solar product range.

The expanded portfolio includes Stream 3000, Stream 5000, Stream AC 5000, and 3 kWh and 5 kWh expansion batteries. When paired with solar generation or expansion batteries, the Stream 5000 can deliver up to 3 kW of output power according to EcoFlow.

The EcoFlow Stream 5000 and EcoFlow Stream AC 5000 are available in UK and EU versions, each offering a lifespan of 10,000 cycles. The EcoFlow Stream 5000 has a maximum charging power of 4 kW, maximum discharging power of 3 kW. The main unit battery for this modular system has charging and discharging power of 2.5 kW. EcoFlow Stream 5000 is rated for a 3 kW AC charging input.

The AC output varies between off-grid and grid tied, with off grid rated at 3 kW and grid-tied AC output listed as 800 W/3 kW on the product specification sheet. The EU and UK versions of EcoFlow Stream 5000 are equipped with four maximum power point trackers (MPPT) and take a PV input power of 5 kW (across four 1.25 kW inputs) at a maximum PV input voltage of 60 V.

The EU version of EcoFlow Stream 5000 supports a maximum power of 3.6 kW, while the UK version is rated for 3 kW. Both devices have a net weight of 45.4 kg, are 295 mm x 489 mm x 298 mm, and carry a 10-year warranty.

EcoFlow Stream AC 5000 has nearly identical specifications but with a maximum charging power of 3 kW rather than 4 kW, and a slightly lower weight at 44.6 kg. The EcoFlow Stream Battery 5 kW has a maximum charging and discharging power of 1.8 kW.

All products in the EcoFlow 5000 range are equipped with low-temperature charging activation at below 10 C, have an IP65 ingress protection rating and should not be any louder than 30 dB, according to the manufacturer.

C&I launch

EcoFlow is also targeting Europe’s C&I users with the launch Alps, a battery storage product that will serve as the first in the manufacturer’s new A Series product range.

Alps is designed for commercial solar-plus storage projects and the new energy storage product is built around a modular 20 kWh architecture that can be configured and expanded to suit different commercial applications.

The stackable system features IP66-rated protection and EcoFlow said it has multi-layer safety architecture spanning cell, system and software levels.