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<p>If you’re reading this, you probably have one of our older WiFi-only controllers. These required you to connect to a temporary WiFi network and enter your home WiFi details manually.</p><p>We’ve now moved on from that approach.</p><p>🔄 What’s New?<br>All current Powston controllers now come with plug-in Ethernet—just connect them to your internet router and they work automatically. No WiFi setup, no configuration steps, no hassle.</p><figure id="figure-6xrn760o1mmce1qi6x"><iframe id="6xrn760o1mmce1qi6x" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mpAJtw-OraY" class="w-full bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowFullScreen="" data-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpAJtw-OraY&ab_channel=IanConnor" data-corners="default" data-fullWidth="false"></iframe></figure><p>❌ We No Longer Support WiFi-Only Controllers<br>If your controller doesn’t have an Ethernet port, it’s time for an upgrade.</p><p>✅ Request a Free Replacement<br>Just email service@powston.com and we’ll send you a new Ethernet-enabled controller at no charge.</p><p>We’ll make sure it’s pre-configured and ready to go—just plug it in and you're online.</p>

Configuring Wi-Fi on your Controller

Aerial solar photovoltaic panel after aerial sunset

<p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: calc(16px * var(--body-fontSize, 1)); font-style: var(--body-fontStyle, normal); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;" data-mce-style="font-family: inherit; font-size: calc(16px * var(--body-fontSize, 1)); font-style: var(--body-fontStyle, normal); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Modern authentication systems favor enhanced security over sheer convenience. While an emailed token isn't as immediate as a static password, it offers significant advantages in protecting user data.</span></p><h3>Tokens and oAuth</h3><p>Our system employs OAuth or an email token-based approach. Instead of managing static passwords, we generate unique, time-sensitive tokens that are sent to the userâ€™s email. This minimizes risks like password reuse and reduces vulnerabilities related to credential storage. Similar to banking practices, this approach is designed to safeguard against the evolving landscape of cyber threats.</p><h3>We cannot confirm or deny</h3><p>A key security measure is our policy of offering generic responses during login attempts. We deliberately do not confirm if an email is registered in our system. By doing so, we prevent account enumerationâ€”where attackers might otherwise determine valid accounts by analyzing system feedback. This extra layer of protection significantly curbs the risk of phishing and other targeted attacks.</p><h3>Most advanced yet acceptable</h3><p>Though this method may introduce a small inconvenience compared to a simple password, it represents a practical balance between advanced security and user experience. The trade-off ensures robust protection while maintaining an acceptable level of usability, much like the security measures employed by financial institutions.</p>

How we picked our login process

<p>Welcome to the Self-Service Onboarding guide, if you get stuck or are not sure at any step, please reach out to us via the contact page.</p><p><span style="font-family: var(--head-fontFamily); font-size: calc(32px * var(--head-fontSize, 1)); font-style: var(--head-fontStyle, normal); font-weight: var(--head-fontWeight, 500); background-color: rgba(249,250,251,var(--tw-bg-opacity));" data-mce-style="font-family: var(--head-fontFamily); font-size: calc(32px * var(--head-fontSize, 1)); font-style: var(--head-fontStyle, normal); font-weight: var(--head-fontWeight, 500); background-color: rgba(249,250,251,var(--tw-bg-opacity));"><br>Step 1: Self Qualify as a Simple Site</span></p><p>If you have a simple site, please feel free to step through the Self Service Onboarding guide. If you have a complex site, or are not sure, please reach out on the Contact page.</p><table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;" border="1" data-mce-style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="width: 33.3333%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.3333%;"><br></td><td style="width: 33.3333%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.3333%;"><strong>Simple Sites</strong></td><td style="width: 33.3333%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.3333%;"><strong>Complex Sites</strong></td></tr><tr><td style="width: 33.3333%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.3333%;"><strong>Inverters</strong></td><td style="width: 33.3333%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.3333%;">One Hybrid Sungrow Inverter (e.g. SH5, SH10, SH15, SH25).</td><td style="width: 33.3333%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.3333%;">Multiple Inverters, especially if Inverters are from one or more brands.</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 33.3333%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.3333%;"><strong>Batteries</strong></td><td style="width: 33.3333%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.3333%;">Sungrow Branded Battery connected to your Sungrow Inverter.</td><td style="width: 33.3333%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.3333%;">Batteries from a different brand, or batteries not connected to your Sungrow Inverter.</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 33.3333%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.3333%;"><strong>Solar Panels</strong></td><td style="width: 33.3333%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.3333%;">Solar Panels connected to your Sungrow Hybrid Inverter, or optionally with no solar Panels.</td><td style="width: 33.3333%;" data-mce-style="width: 33.3333%;">Solar panels running through an inverter other than your Sungrow Hybrid inverter.</td></tr></tbody></table><h3>Step 2: Order your Hardware &amp; Subscription</h3><p><a data-mce-href="https://powston.chargebee.com/hosted_pages/checkout?subscription_items%5Bitem_price_id%5D%5B0%5D=controller-management-aud-monthly&amp;subscription_items%5Bquantity%5D%5B0%5D=1&amp;layout=in_app" href="https://powston.chargebee.com/hosted_pages/checkout?subscription_items%5Bitem_price_id%5D%5B0%5D=controller-management-aud-monthly&amp;subscription_items%5Bquantity%5D%5B0%5D=1&amp;layout=in_app" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Click Here to Place your Order</strong></a><br><br></p><p><span style="font-family: var(--head-fontFamily); font-size: calc(32px * var(--head-fontSize, 1)); font-style: var(--head-fontStyle, normal); font-weight: var(--head-fontWeight, 500); background-color: rgba(249,250,251,var(--tw-bg-opacity));" data-mce-style="font-family: var(--head-fontFamily); font-size: calc(32px * var(--head-fontSize, 1)); font-style: var(--head-fontStyle, normal); font-weight: var(--head-fontWeight, 500); background-color: rgba(249,250,251,var(--tw-bg-opacity));">Step 3: Join a Wholesale Retailer&nbsp;</span></p><p>Powston isn't an energy retailer, so you will still need to retain an energy retailer. Most of our customers are registered with Local Volts as they pass through the AEMO Spot prices directly to the consumer for those in QLD, NSW, ACT, SA, TAS to be elligible.&nbsp;<br></p><p><a data-mce-href="https://localvolts.com/register/?EntityID=21973" href="https://localvolts.com/register/?EntityID=21973"><strong>Click Here to Register with Local Volts</strong></a><br></p><p>If you're an existing LocalVolts Customer, using the Talk to LocalVolts Feature send a request:"I'd like to join Powston". It can take up to 2 weeks for your current energy retailer to release you, continue the below steps while you wait.</p><p>If you'd like to use another retailer, please contact us.</p><h3>Step 4: Add Powston as a Channel Partner<br></h3><p>This will give Powston access to see your Inverters data via the Sungrow API, we can take limited control over your inverter via API, which is why we also required the hardware.</p><p>1. Login to iSolarCloud: https://au.isolarcloud.com/&nbsp;<br>2. Select your Plant from the list<br>3. Select Plant Configuration<br>4. Add Powston as a Channel Partner</p><h3 id="figure-uh1c2u6h2em6ofwqfu"><img id="uh1c2u6h2em6ofwqfu" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/32bNZTRpf2nhEecogloQIeSuC39l8s2T6ExWc1vXar846ZhsduM48iaCYlgdE3V2.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/32bNZTRpf2nhEecogloQIeSuC39l8s2T6ExWc1vXar846ZhsduM48iaCYlgdE3V2.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></h3><h3>Step 5: Login to Powston</h3><p><a data-mce-href="https://app.powston.com" href="https://app.powston.com"><strong>Login to Powston: app.powston.com</strong></a></p><p>You will need to use the same email address you use to login to Sungrow.</p><p>At this point, you should be able to see your Inverter's details coming through.&nbsp; Powston will not be controlling your inverter just yet until you have instructed us to Take Control.</p><h3>Step 6: Install your Controller</h3><p>Once you receive your controller follow this Installation guide:</p><figure id="figure-06sdi362dpm71g7c76" class=""><iframe id="06sdi362dpm71g7c76" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5l_vEsZ0rlw" class="w-full bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" allowfullscreen="" data-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l_vEsZ0rlw" data-corners="default" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5l_vEsZ0rlw" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-dashlane-frameid="1876"></iframe></figure><h3>Step 7: Let Powston take Control</h3><p>Double Check you are Ready:</p><p>1. Registered with LocalVolts and received the confirmation you are now on LocalVolts?<br>2. Added Powston as a Channel Partner?<br>3. Installed your Controller?<br>4. Confirmed you can login at app.powston.com and see your inverter?</p><p>Then its time to take the next step:</p><p>Email <a href="mailto:service@powston.com" data-mce-href="mailto:service@powston.com">service@powston.com</a> to let us know you are ready for Powston to take Control of your inverter!</p><h3>Step 8: Review the Platform Overview</h3><p>Watch the Platform Overview to learn how to use the Powston Platform:</p><figure id="figure-fqpb5vrh0sm6siec2n" class=""><iframe id="fqpb5vrh0sm6siec2n" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1XzB19jI4k8" class="w-full bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" allowfullscreen="" data-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XzB19jI4k8" data-corners="default" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1XzB19jI4k8" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-dashlane-frameid="1877"></iframe></figure><p><br></p>

Self-Service Onboarding - Sungrow

Electric Car Charging Station With Solar Panels And Electric Chargers

<p>Proposed changes to small-scale embedded generation rules could reshape how households and businesses interact with the grid. While updates to standards and export limits aim to manage network stability, they also highlight an opportunity: to <strong>properly reward distributed battery owners</strong> for supporting the grid.</p><p>https://www.talkingenergy.com.au/changes-to-connection-standard-for-embedded-generation</p><h3>The Problem: Penalizing the Very Solutions We Need</h3><p>One concerning aspect of the changes is how battery owners could face <strong>unfair charges when importing</strong> after exporting. Imagine a home battery system exporting energy into the grid during peak demand, helping to stabilize the network and reduce strain on infrastructure. Later, when demand drops, that same household might need to re-import power at a lower rate. However, under some interpretations of the new rules, they could be hit with demand charges <strong>or additional tariffs for that import</strong>, effectively penalizing them for participating in energy trading.</p><p>This is <strong>double taxation </strong>and disincentivizes the very behaviour that grid operators should be encouraging.</p><h3>The Opportunity: A Smarter Grid With Fair Market Access</h3><p>If policymakers and network operators truly want <strong>distributed batteries to play a major role</strong> in stabilizing the grid, they must recognize the value of flexibility. Instead of penalizing battery owners, we should be:</p><p><strong>Rewarding peak-time exports</strong> that reduce stress on the network.<br><strong>Eliminating unnecessary penalties</strong> for importing after exporting.<br><strong>Encouraging demand-shifting</strong> behavior with tariffs that reflect true market dynamics.<br><strong>Creating real-time incentives</strong> that allow batteries to operate dynamically based on grid needs.</p><p>By <strong>aligning economic signals</strong> with grid reliability, we can unleash the full power of consumer-owned batteries, VPPs, and intelligent energy trading. This isn’t just about fairness—it’s about creating a more resilient, lower-cost electricity system for everyone.</p><h3>Powston’s Role in Enabling Battery Trading</h3><p>At Powston, we’ve been helping customers trade their batteries for profit and <strong>accelerate their ROI</strong>, seeing firsthand the power of market-based incentives to drive battery adoption. When the right policies are in place, batteries don’t just save money—they make money, turning consumers into active participants in the energy market.</p><h3>The Hidden Cost of Transmission Charges</h3><p>Much of the demand component in energy pricing is billed as <strong>long-distance transmission charges</strong>, even though the power may never travel long distances. From a homeowner’s perspective, this creates an unfair system where their <strong>next-door neighbour pays</strong> high transmission fees despite the power originating from the same low-voltage network.</p><p>The problem becomes even more apparent with peer-to-peer energy trading. If a homeowner sells 1 kWh to their neighbour, the network may take <strong>over 20c/kWh</strong> in peak demand fees—supposedly to cover the cost of long-distance transmission from coal power plants. However, in reality, that energy was locally generated, stored, and sold using rooftop solar and battery storage.</p><p>This outdated pricing structure discourages local energy sharing and limits the true benefits of distributed energy resources.</p><h3>The Future: Will Networks Price Themselves Out of Business?</h3><p>Ironically, networks might be setting themselves up for failure. Given that the <strong>cost of home battery storage has dropped</strong> below the cost of these demand fees, homeowners can still make a profit despite the penalties. As more consumers adopt battery storage and peer-to-peer trading models, they will bypass the traditional grid fees altogether, leading to a self-reinforcing shift away from centralized electricity models. If utilities and regulators don’t adapt, they risk making themselves irrelevant in a future where distributed energy resources dominate.</p><h3>A Time of Reckoning</h3><p>Much like other industries that have faced disruption when technology costs drop, the electricity networks may soon find themselves at a crossroads. As decentralized energy becomes more accessible, the traditional grid model faces increasing pressure to evolve. <strong>We didn’t leave the stone age because we ran out of stones</strong>—rather, we moved forward because better solutions emerged. It will be interesting to see how networks choose to respond. The future of our energy system depends on getting this balance right.</p>

Unlocking the Full Potential of Distributed Batteries for a Smarter Grid

Battery renewable energy innovation EV lithium

<p>A battery’s warranty is often defined by both time (like 10 years) and a maximum number of charge-discharge cycles. If a system costs $500 per kilowatt-hour and is rated for 4,000 cycles, that means you must earn about 12.5¢ per kWh each cycle just to break even. People sometimes interpret that as never discharging for less than 12.5¢, but that can be limiting.</p><figure id="figure-uoh37dzsehm65kyx1m"><img id="uoh37dzsehm65kyx1m" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1041041644/photo/home-automation-and-smart-home-technology-lighting-control.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=HtnB84wqI0AUbaotzy50MP3sKtQVBc1Zs3vdGEJKrvA=" alt="Home Automation and smart home technology - Lighting control" title="Home Automation and smart home technology - Lighting control" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1041041644/photo/home-automation-and-smart-home-technology-lighting-control.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=HtnB84wqI0AUbaotzy50MP3sKtQVBc1Zs3vdGEJKrvA=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;"></figure><p>Here’s why. Some days, energy prices are flat and you might only earn 5¢ or 10¢ per kWh. If you skip these smaller gains, you burn precious battery time anyway—your warranty clock still ticks. Taking smaller spreads when they’re available might lower your average profit per cycle, but it prevents wasted opportunities. Over time, these “little wins” can add up, compensating for occasional lower earnings.</p><figure id="figure-6amgnfmf8pm65l9qhj"><img id="6amgnfmf8pm65l9qhj" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/22W94hSjNA7S4hxulNYl0GUOMgj6AZfduQb0mOQ9rD0M7xUkcOJU2YM81Vfiu8qa.png" alt="Take smaller profits based on battery state of charge" title="Take smaller profits based on battery state of charge" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="example 'use it or loose it' code" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="false"/><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">example 'use it or loose it' code</figcaption></figure><p>That’s the essence of “use it or lose it.” If your battery still has enough capacity to recharge before the next high-price window, it makes sense to discharge for 10¢ at 2 a.m. rather than miss out. This way, you accumulate revenue steadily instead of chasing only the perfect high-rate discharge. It isn’t purely about matching the theoretical 12.5¢ cycle value; it’s about capturing the most total revenue possible over your battery’s lifespan.</p>

Unlock Hidden Battery Profits With This ‘Use It or Lose It’ Trick!

Close-up View Of Home Battery Storage System On Building Facade

<h2>Why Beating the Market Isn’t as Simple as It Seems</h2><p>One of the appeals of advanced battery management platforms is the freedom to define your own trading strategies. At first glance, it looks straightforward: watch the prices for a few days, identify seemingly obvious patterns, and then code a set of rules you believe will outperform the market. After all, if you can guess when prices will spike, why not lock in a tidy profit by selling right at the peak?</p><p>What feels intuitive in the short term often fails to hold up over months and years. Markets are dynamic, influenced by countless factors. The patterns you spot early on can become traps, luring you into decisions that look good until an unusual pricing event breaks your assumptions.</p><p>Consider a recent day that defied the norm. Instead of the expected evening surge, we saw unexpectedly high prices in the middle of the day followed by middling yet still elevated prices overnight. A user relying solely on a predefined “sell at price X” rule would have likely discharged their battery at the first sign of a daytime spike. But by doing so, they might have missed an opportunity to capitalize on the later, still-high prices. Conversely, a too-conservative rule might never discharge, effectively forfeiting profit opportunities altogether.</p><p>The graph below shows what happened when a set of overly rigid rules led to early selling. The battery ended up drained before prices rose again. Instead of making more from the later spike, the system was left with no energy to sell. In hindsight, you might think, “Well, I should have tweaked the trigger price,” but that’s the point: every adjustment seems plausible until the market shifts again.</p><figure id="figure-icc8dxjygm4na2yuz"><img id="icc8dxjygm4na2yuz" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/475uSwoofOqnyJDZAlJoVh2LHpmm9rxwnH9jDZ8Q0xhrNAMCnykzdkw7BFrqFckJ.png" alt="Shows SOC decreasing early afternoon vs waiting for night" title="Shows SOC decreasing early afternoon vs waiting for night" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="Discharged too early vs waiting for better prices" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/475uSwoofOqnyJDZAlJoVh2LHpmm9rxwnH9jDZ8Q0xhrNAMCnykzdkw7BFrqFckJ.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">Discharged too early vs waiting for better prices</figcaption></figure><p>Writing genuinely effective rules means understanding that you’re dealing with a constantly moving target. Long-term success arises from strategies that incorporate variability, adaptability, and a willingness to revise assumptions. In practice, this might mean blending price signals with other real-time data, applying machine learning to adjust to changing conditions, or even building fail-safes into your rules so that you’re not over-committing to a single guess about future prices.</p><p>Ultimately, beating the market is less about discovering a foolproof strategy and more about continuous refinement. It’s about acknowledging that what works this month might fail next year, and preparing your system to learn, adapt, and evolve as the landscape changes. Even the most seasoned professionals find that the journey involves a constant dialogue with the market’s complexity. That’s where true long-term value is created: not in chasing a perfect set of rules, but in refining them continually as new insights emerge.</p><h3>You don’t have to navigate this complexity alone</h3><p>Powston and its community of dedicated open-source contributors offer starting points—rules tested for months across various Australian markets. You can adapt these proven templates to your conditions, blending them with personal usage patterns to create strategies uniquely suited to your lifestyle. With patience and systematic refinement, these foundations can evolve into powerful tools, potentially delivering hundreds of dollars a month in savings or profits. </p><h3>What if you can't code?</h3><p>For those who prefer a more hands-off approach, trusted installers familiar with these systems can configure and fine-tune the rules for you, drawing on their experience to help ensure that your battery management setup achieves real, tangible results without the hassle.</p>

Crafting Battery Management Rules

Powston

Powston is an Australian energy technology company transforming how households and businesses use and profit from renewable energy. Our AI-driven platform and plug-and-play controller connect batteries, solar, and smart devices directly to the 5-minute wholesale energy market. This lets customers cut their electricity bills, optimise consumption, and even earn revenue—without relying on traditional retailers or Virtual Power Plants.
With integrations across leading brands like Sungrow, SAJ, iStore, Powston empowers users with real-time energy monitoring, cost optimisation, and automation tools for appliances, EVs, and backup planning.
Headquartered in Brisbane, Powston is committed to building a more sustainable future by enabling everyday Australians to reduce environmental impact while achieving financial independence from power bills

Blog

Configuring Wi-Fi on your Controller

How we picked our login process

Self-Service Onboarding - Sungrow

Unlocking the Full Potential of Distributed Batteries for...

Unlock Hidden Battery Profits With This ‘Use It or Lose I...

Crafting Battery Management Rules