A Zendure storage system with HEMS and ZENKI control can only reach its full potential if it knows when electricity is currently inexpensive. That’s exactly what dynamic electricity rates are for. Zendure makes setting up such a dynamic electricity rate intentionally straightforward. In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through, step by step, how to either activate Zendure’s own ZenWave rate plan or integrate an existing dynamic rate plan into the app so that ZENKI can work with it.
What You’ll Need First
Before we begin, here are the prerequisites:
- A Zendure storage system with HEMS support (e.g., SolarFlow 2400 Pro (€ 738.99 *), SolarFlow 2400 AC (Price not available *), or the Mix series)
- The Zendure app, installed and linked to an account
- Ideally, a Zendure Smart Meter, such as the Zendure D0 (Price not available *), so that ZENKI knows not only the price data but also your actual home energy consumption
- Either an existing dynamic electricity plan or a willingness to switch directly to ZenWave
Important to note upfront: You must choose one of two options. Either you integrate your existing electricity provider (Zendure supports 870 providers in 32 European markets), or you switch directly to the in-house rate plan ZenWave, which is particularly closely integrated with ZENKI. Both options follow a similar technical process but differ in the details.
Option 1: Connect an existing dynamic plan
If you already have a dynamic electricity contract and simply want to share the price data with ZENKI, follow these steps:
Step 1 – Open the app and gotothe HEMS section
Open the Zendureappandnavigateto the energy managementsectionof your device. There you’ll find the settings for plans and price signals.
Step 2 – Select a provider
Look for your current electricity provider in the provider list. Thanks to broad support, the match rate is high, especially for the most common dynamic rate providers in Germany and Austria.
Step 3 – Enter login credentials or grant API access
Depending on the provider, you’ll either need your contract details or will need to grant permission for data access. This is usually done through a guided wizard in the app that walks you through the setup step by step.
Step 4 – Test the connection
After setup, you should see a current price curve for the day in the app. If the curve is empty or appears outdated, it’s worth checking the connection settings. In most cases, saving your login credentials again will resolve the issue.
Method 2: Activate ZenWave directly in the app
If you don’t have a dynamic rate plan yet or want to switch anyway, you can sign up for ZenWave directly within the Zendure ecosystem. This is the option with the tightest integration because both the rate plan and the hardware come from a single source.
Step 1 – Open the “ZenWave” section
You’ll find a dedicated ZenWave section in the app. That’s where you start the sign-up process.
Step 2 – Enter your personal information
Your name, address, and other standard details required for an electricity contract are requested directly in the app.
Step 3 – Sign the contract online
The electricity contract is signed digitally, with no paperwork at all. The rate is based on the purchase prices from the EPEX Spot electricity exchange and consists of 100 percent certified green electricity.
Step 4 – Automatic Provider Switch
Once you’ve signed, the system automatically handles the switch in the background. Realistically, you should expect a wait of a few weeks until the new rate plan actually becomes active. However, this is a standard waiting period for switching rate plans in Germany.
In terms of pricing, ZenWave is comparatively affordable at a monthly base fee of 4.99 euros and a service fee of 1.59 cents per kilowatt-hour—especially compared to competitors, who often charge a base fee of 10 to 15 euros.
Let ZENKI work with the price data
As soon as the price data starts flowing—whether through your own provider or ZenWave—it’s time to get down to the actual control:
Step 1 – Select the appropriate mode
Switch to ZENKI mode so that the system actually uses the price signals to make charging and discharging decisions. Auto mode also responds to real-time conditions, but does not take price forecasts into account. If you want to create your own rules, you can switch to Expert Mode instead and define your own time windows using the 15-minute price map.
Step 2 – Set Priorities
Determines which loads should be supplied preferentially from the storage system or during low-price periods. For example, high-power loads such as wallboxes or heat pumps can also be included here.
Step 3 – Activate Notifications
Enables email alerts for negative electricity prices, if available. This is particularly useful for scheduling larger appliances specifically during times when you actually get paid to charge them instead of paying.
Stay in Control: Price Map and Live Cost Tracking
After setup, it’s worth checking the app regularly during the first few days. The price map shows at a glance when electricity is currently cheap, while live cost tracking shows you how much you’re actually saving compared to a fixed-rate plan.
If you’d like, you can also use this to determine whether the rules you’ve selected in Expert Mode truly match your consumption patterns—or whether adjustments are worthwhile.
Common Pitfalls
A few points that often lead to questions in practice:
- No smart meter: Without a smart meter, ZENKI knows the electricity prices but not your actual household consumption. The optimization then works much less precisely, which negatively affects your savings potential.
- Switching providers takes time: Whether using ZenWave or connecting an existing rate plan, the actual switch takes time. During the transition phase, the system usually continues to run in the previous mode.
- No guaranteed savings: Dynamic rates are most beneficial for households that can flexibly shift their consumption. Those who use electricity at a steady rate around the clock benefit less.
Conclusion
Setting up a dynamic electricity plan with Zendure takes just a few steps, whether you integrate your existing provider or switch directly to ZenWave. However, the real added value only comes into play when combined with a smart meter and the right ZENKI mode. Only then can the system truly integrate prices, weather, and consumption—rather than just blindly following a fixed rate schedule. The good news: Once you take the time to set it up, you’ll hardly have to do anything else afterward.
Images: Zendure
