Turning "it can't be done" into a working system, thanks to Marshall

When Felicity began looking to expand her home’s battery capacity, she was repeatedly told it wasn’t possible. Her existing Qcells AC-coupled system couldn’t be extended, Qcells had left the Australian market and most installers were clear that adding a second AC-coupled system would create operational conflicts. After her original battery and inverter failed and were replaced under warranty, the sense of being stuck only grew stronger.

Once ZECO Energy repaired the system, our engineers started exploring whether there was a way forward rather than a dead end. The main challenge was straightforward but complex: two AC-coupled battery systems on one site typically work against each other. One system can discharge to support the home while the other charges from the grid, creating inefficiencies and instability. It’s the reason most people in the industry avoid this setup altogether.

Over several weeks, our engineers developed a configuration using Marshall technology to integrate a new Noark/Deye AC-coupled BESS alongside the existing Qcells unit. Marshall’s role was to coordinate both systems, reading site load, grid power, PV production and battery behaviour, then ensuring they operated in sequence rather than conflict.

The Qcells system remained first priority, with the Noark system managed as second priority. This allowed the site to function as one coherent system without either battery undermining the other’s operation.

The result is a stable, expanded setup that gives Felicity the additional storage she needed. Her Qcells unit now works seamlessly with the Noark system, providing a combined capacity that actually suits the household’s usage. As she described it, “It’s all working as the one system… so the system is absolutely sized perfectly.” She also noted the effort behind the solution: “He’s extraordinary… He’s been so helpful for us and we can’t thank ZECO Energy enough.”

Project Felicity shows what can happen when a difficult technical constraint is approached with patience and some creative engineering. It’s a natural innovation and evolution of the industry, finding a methodical, workable pathway where most installers assumed none existed.

For technical enquiries or installation support, contact
marshall@zeco.au or support@datamarshall.com.au

A new Marshall diagnostic feature for detecting inverter AC connection abnormalities

ZECO Energy has introduced a new diagnostic feature within Marshall Technology designed to identify abnormal impedance between an inverter’s AC output and the site’s point of supply, an issue that has been widely discussed across the industry following well-documented AC connector failures in Sigenergy single-phase 8/10/12 kW inverters.

Essentially, a hot connection at inverter grid outlet plug can be captured and the system can send automated emails to installers, OEMs and homeowners so the issues can be flagged before AC connector problems present.

The feature builds on Marshall’s existing ability to read both the site grid voltage and the inverter-reported AC voltage.

This new solution would see each morning, when the inverter is not generating, Marshall record a baseline percentage difference between the two values. This measurement - referred to internally as %Delta Voltage - is then tracked over time. If the difference exceeds a defined threshold or begins to drift in a way that suggests a rise in impedance, Marshall can flag the change for the installer.

ZECO Energy engineers have also prepared an alternative method for use during generation periods, where grid voltage naturally fluctuates due to daytime solar export. In these cases, Marshall can analyse the behaviour of the voltage ratio relative to export current, allowing abnormal patterns to be identified even under varying grid conditions.

This approach has been reviewed and refined through internal engineering work and subsequent discussions with engineers across the industry. It has now been formally presented to the broader sector as a practical, monitoring-based pathway to highlight abnormal inverter-to-grid conditions earlier and more reliably.

ZECO Energy Director Jag Makam said:

The diagnostic enhancement will be included in an upcoming Marshall software update. Installers and engineering partners can contact ZECO’s technical services team for further information or early-access participation.

Building Global Connections: ZECO Energy Visits Sigenergy Headquarters in Shanghai

This month, ZECO Energy’s own Josh, a valued member of our sales team for more than two years, travelled to Shanghai, China for a special visit to Sigenergy’s global headquarters.

The four-day trip, supported by Tradezone and Sigenergy, brought together key partners and leaders from across the energy sector. Josh met with Sigenergy’s Founder and CEO, Tony Xu, and Will Hall, Managing Director for Sigenergy Australia and New Zealand, to discuss the company’s growing footprint and commitment to innovation in the Australian market.

Throughout the visit, Josh says he was struck by how customer-centric Sigenergy’s approach is: from their product development to the level of support they offer installers and end users. It was clear that Sigenergy’s continued investment in Australia reflects a genuine focus on long-term value and partnership.

According to Greenbank data, Sigenergy now accounts for around one-third of all Battery STC claims across Australia, a strong rise since entering the market in late 2023.

At ZECO Energy, we’re proud that our Marshall Technology integrates seamlessly with Sigenergy systems, ensuring full compatibility across all installations. Together, these innovations open the door to even greater possibilities for Australian homeowners and businesses alike.

We’re excited to continue strengthening our relationship with Sigenergy and to see where this shared commitment to smarter, more reliable energy solutions will take us next.

A new offering from ZECO Energy to property owners with Marshall Technology

ZECO Energy is empowering property owners and facility managers to improve their NABERS ratings through verified, circuit-level metering that delivers the data clarity assessors trust.

At ZECO Energy, we understand that the foundation of a strong NABERS rating is reliable, verifiable data. That’s why we’ve engineered a smarter, more adaptable approach to metering, one that goes beyond compliance to give building owners actionable insights into their performance.

Recently, our team commissioned a metering system for an 11-storey mixed-use building, showcasing how the right technology can simplify complexity at scale. The site operates across three electrical phases, each monitored through a 600-amp current transformer (CT).

While previous solutions required multiple standalone meters to capture similar data, ZECO’s design used a CT on each feed, dramatically reducing hardware redundancy and points of failure. The result: fewer devices, greater precision, and a cleaner path to NABERS-grade data.

Our system provides the client with a unified dashboard where grid draw and solar production data are presented side by side — exactly the level of clarity auditors and assessors look for. The solar meter sits on the 11th floor and the grid meter in the basement, each connected to its own Marshall device. These are networked through a Marshall cloud aggregator, allowing both to communicate seamlessly and combine their readings into one integrated performance view.

This interoperability is at the heart of ZECO Energy’s innovation: a flexible, scalable metering solution designed for real-world building layouts and diverse infrastructure. Whether retrofitting legacy systems or designing new developments, ZECO gives building owners the visibility and verification tools they need to track, improve, and prove their energy performance, one circuit at a time.

NABERS ratings score buildings from 0 to six stars based on metered energy use, as well as water, waste and indoor environment performance. Buildings with higher score profiles typically see lower operating costs and stronger asset value to increase tenant attraction.

For support or enquiries, get it contact: 

Call - 03 4422 4455 
Email - marshall@zeco.au

ZECO Energy’s Marshall Technology Powers GivEnergy’s Entry into the Australian Market

In a major step toward streamlining energy compliance and enabling smarter installations, ZECO Energy and GivEnergy are proud to announce a new partnership that simplifies how GivEnergy inverters connect to the Australian grid.

As of this week, all GivEnergy units sold in Australia will come equipped with ZECO Energy’s Marshall Technology, ensuring full CSIP-AUS compliance and enabling Dynamic Export Control (DEC) in Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland.

This collaboration allows GivEnergy to bring its cutting-edge products to market without the usual roadblocks associated with Australia's layered regulatory requirements. With Marshall acting as the compliance gateway, OEMs like GivEnergy can avoid time-consuming integration work and focus on what matters: delivering clean, reliable energy to homes and businesses across the country.

“Marshall is doing what it was built to do: removing barriers, simplifying complexity, and enabling innovation,” said Jag Makam, Director at ZECO Energy.

Installers working with GivEnergy inverters can also lean on ZECO Energy’s technical support. From installation to commissioning, the Marshall Helpline is available for questions, troubleshooting, and hands-on guidance.

This partnership reflects the growing demand for seamless, standards-compliant energy technologies, and the role Marshall is playing in shaping that future.

For installer support, get it contact: 

Call - 03 4422 4455 
Email - marshall@zeco.au

ZECO’s Marshall Technology Certified for Integration with NOARK Electric

ZECO Energy is proud to announce that its Australian-made Marshall Technology is now officially certified for seamless integration with NOARK Electric systems, with a core focus on delivering Dynamic Export Control across Australian distribution networks.

This certification solidifies Marshall as the go-to solution for installers needing reliable, standards-compliant export control, especially under DNSP frameworks like SA Power Networks (SAPN), Powercor, AusNet, and Jemena.

Marshall, ZECO’s advanced Technology, is already trusted by installers nationwide for its robust export control, system monitoring, and load management capabilities.

ZECO’s Marshall ecosystem, including Marshall Lite, Blackbox, and Blackbox Ultra, is fully approved by the Clean Energy Council (CEC) and tested in the field. NOARK Electric is now part of this certified ecosystem, enabling:

• Dynamic Export Control for all NOARK inverter sites
• Emergency Backstop Mechanism compliance in Victoria
• Multi-inverter and multi-brand setups under one NMI
• Seamless integration with or without external meters

While Dynamic Export Control is the current focus, ZECO and NOARK are actively working together on next-stage capabilities, including:

• Battery charge/discharge scheduling and control
• VPP-ready integration with real-time telemetry and secure API access
• AI optimisation modules, enabling tariff-aware control, forecasting, and event-driven dispatch

These features are already in advanced development, and will further strengthen the NOARK–Marshall offering in both residential and commercial energy deployments.

With a 98%+ success rate across live deployments and a strong reputation among installers, Marshall simplifies compliance, reduces site complexity, and unlocks a pathway to intelligent, future-ready energy systems.

To learn more about Marshall's integration with NOARK and what's coming next, visit keep up to date with our news here. 

For technical enquiries or installation support, contact
marshall@zeco.au or support@datamarshall.com.au

The Electrification Renovation 

This opens up a powerful opportunity: the Electrification Renovation.

New Federal Government Solar Battery Rebate: Everything you need to know 

First announced in April, the Federal Labor Government has committed to a significant policy change shifting towards home batteries for Solar systems, further incentivising Australians to reduce their reliance on the grid and start saving with a Solar and battery system. 

Following the results of the weekend's federal election, we now expect this policy to come into effect from July 1, as previously outlined by Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen. Read on below for all our insights. 

The Federal Government estimates that with a battery, you’ll save up to 90% on a full value electricity bill, meaning you could access:

• Eligible systems receive 9.3 small-scale technology certificates (STCs) per kWh

  • At an estimated $37 per STC, that equates to approximately $344 per kWh of usable capacity

  • A 15.6 kWh battery could receive a rebate of around $5,367

Major milestone for Marshall Technology integrating with Sigenergy

ZECO Energy is proud to announce a major technical milestone: the successful installation of its Marshall device in a Sigenergy PV system within the AusNet network.

This breakthrough brings a practical solution to one of the key challenges faced by homeowners and businesses using Sigenergy inverters in Victoria: compliance with the state’s Emergency Emergency Backstop Mechanism. Marshall bridges this critical gap.

ZECO engineers worked closely with industry partners to ensure that Marshall can act as the certified gateway device, interpreting signals from DNSPs and coordinating appropriate inverter response in real time — even in complex systems involving battery storage.

Marshall, ZECO’s advanced Technology, is already trusted by installers nationwide for its robust export control, system monitoring, and load management capabilities.

Its unique ability to adapt across protocols and inverter types has made it a go-to choice for systems requiring flexible integration — and now, that includes Sigenergy.

The newly certified setup enables:

• Full compliance with Victoria’s Emergency Backstop requirements
• A 98% success rate in curtailment signal reception and grid response
• Seamless integration into new and existing Sigenergy installations

For energy providers, solar installers, and homeowners alike, this is a game-changer.

Marshall is available in multiple formats (Lite, Blackbox, and Blackbox Ultra) to suit residential and commercial systems. It can be purchased via ZECO or Tradezone.

Click here for the official AusNet approved inverter and gateway list for Victorian Emergency Backstop Mechanism which shows that Marshall is the only gateway device that is approved to be compatible with all of Sigenergy’s offerings.

For technical enquiries or installation support, contact
marshall@zeco.au or support@datamarshall.com.au

ZECO Energy’s Marshall Technology to Power WA Public Transport Authority’s Train Station Upgrades

Melbourne, Australia – [28/03/25] – ZECO Energy is proud to announce that its Marshall technology has been selected for integration into the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia upgrade of three train stations. Marshall will provide inverter and grid fault status to the site SCADA system. The Marshall solution is based on customer specific requirements and was developed, tested and delivered within project timeline.

“Our selection for this critical infrastructure project underscores ZECO Energy’s leadership in being the only OEM capable of providing such important Technology,” said Seb Mottram, Communications Manager at ZECO Energy. “Our problem solving, tailored solutions are a huge aspect of our Marshall Technology's adaptations in the market and we're glad to see it brought to the fore in such an important project."

“By integrating Marshall technology into Western Australia’s public transport network, we’re ensuring not only compliance with modern energy standards but also a more resilient and intelligent energy management system for essential public services.

Marshall’s smart control technology plays a pivotal role in optimizing energy use across multiple inverters while reducing the need for on-site interventions. By automating fault detection and remote system adjustments, Marshall not only enhances operational efficiency but also ensures compliance with PTA’s stringent reliability and safety requirements.

Leading the Future of Smart Energy Solutions

ZECO Energy has long been at the forefront of Australia’s energy transformation, delivering innovative solutions that empower businesses and individuals to take control of their energy management. With interconnected expertise across installations, technology, and technical services, ZECO Energy provides comprehensive renewable solutions that support the transition to a smarter, more sustainable energy future.

ZECO Energy continues to expand its footprint in the renewable energy sector, offering cutting-edge energy management technologies for unique solutions across commercial, residential, and public infrastructure projects. The integration of Marshall technology into WA’s public transport network marks another milestone in ZECO’s mission to drive innovation in smart energy solutions.

For more information about ZECO Energy and the Marshall family of products, visit www.zecoenergy.com.au.