What PV system owners need to know
SMA Energy Maximizer
The SMA Energy Maximizer automatically uses more of your own solar power and buys electricity only when it’s cheapest. You benefit from lower bills, higher independence and smart optimization running quietly in the background — without changing your daily routine.
View the SMA Energy Maximizer page for installers and discover how easy the new energy management is activated.
Energy Maximizer for Installers
Pay less per kWh — without changing your daily routine.
Benefits
Lower bills automatically
The Energy Maximizer uses your own solar power first and buys electricity only when it’s cheapest.
Zero effort
Everything runs in the background — less settings, no complexity.
Adapts to real-life conditions
Considers weather, usage and price changes automatically.
More solar, less grid
Maximize the energy you generate yourself and rely less on expensive grid power.
Full transparency
Monitor and control your consumption, production and energy flows directly in the SMA Energy App — anytime.
Try risk‑free
Enjoy the full experience for 90 days without entering any payment details.
SMA Energy Maximizer
Automated optimization
Uses solar energy at the most efficient times and supplies electricity when it’s most cost-effective — fully automatically.
Dynamic tariff intelligence
Takes advantage of low electricity prices and avoids high-cost periods — without manual intervention.
More solar, less grid
Maximizes your self-consumption and stores solar surplus automatically to reduce your dependence on the grid.
Simple setup
Activate once — the system runs automatically in the background, without additional configuration.
No strings attached
Try it free for 90 days — no payment details required and no automatic subscription.
Integrated in your system
Preinstalled in all ennexOS-based SMA devices — simply activate and start saving.
Look for the banner in the SMA Energy App
If your system is compatible, you’ll automatically see an Energy Maximizer banner in the SMA Energy App — on the dashboard or in “My area”.
Don’t see the banner?
Check our FAQs or contact your installer — they can help you activate Energy Maximizer anytime.
Start your free 90‑day trial
Tap the banner and activate the Energy Maximizer with just a few clicks — no payment details required.
Set up and start saving
Complete the basic settings in the SMA Energy App — from that moment on, Energy Maximizer optimizes your solar energy, battery and tariffs automatically.
*Availability and features may vary by country.
Built on 10+ years of energy management
Trusted in more than 420,000 homes worldwide — built on over a decade of energy management experience. Now evolving from manual control to automatic optimization, with built-in cybersecurity.
Energy Maximizer vs. Energy Planner
SMA Energy Planner*
Prefer simple, rule-based control? Energy Planner gives you predictable, schedule-based energy management — ideal for stable operating conditions and straightforward use cases.
SMA Energy Maximizer*
Want automatic optimization and lower bills automatically? Energy Maximizer continuously optimizes energy flows based on forecasts, tariffs and real-time data — with no manual intervention.
*Availability and features may vary by country.
Energy Management powered by ennexOS
Energy Maximizer and Energy Planner are already integrated into all ennexOS-based SMA devices — ready to use from day one.
Availability and features may vary by country.
From installation to everyday use — real experiences from installers and homeowners.
¹ Based on an internal SMA customer survey conducted via the SMA Energy App among owners of residential solar systems (over 11,000 participants in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands). Respondents were asked about their intention to choose SMA again (“Would you choose SMA again?”).
What installers need to know
SMA Energy Maximizer
The SMA Energy Maximizer takes over energy management automatically. Once activated, it continuously optimizes energy flows based on forecasts, tariffs and real usage data — without manual configuration.
For installers, this means faster commissioning and fewer support requests — for customers, reduced energy costs without additional effort.
View the SMA Energy Maximizer page for home- and business-owners and discover how it lowers your energy bills automatically.
Energy Maximizer for homeowners
![[Translate to English:] Activate the SMA Energy Maximizer](/fileadmin/content/website-meta/products/energy-management/energy-maximizer/SMA_Home_Installer_Comissioning_5120.jpg?v=1781697510)
Activate the SMA Energy Maximizer
Faster commissioning
Activate in just a few steps and reduce setup time.
Less configuration
Runs automatically — no ongoing adjustments needed.
Fewer support requests
Clear system behavior reduces customer questions.
A strong offer for your customers
Adapts automatically to real-life conditions.
Recurring revenue
Benefit from ongoing incentives via the SMA Premium Reward Program.
Reduced energy costs
More solar, less expensive grid power.
Automatic optimization
Energy flows are managed continuously in the background.
Adapts to real-life conditions
Considers weather, usage and price changes automatically.
Intelligent use of storage
Battery usage adjusts based on system conditions.
Clear and easy to understand
Transparent behavior in the SMA Energy App.
Risk free
90-day free trial, no upfront commitment and flexible monthly cancellation.
SMA Energy Maximizer
Automated optimization
Uses advanced forecasting to control solar, battery, EV and (soon) heat pump automatically.
Dynamic tariff intelligence
Buys electricity when it´s cheapest and sells when prices are high.
Maximizes self-consumption
Prioritizes solar energy and stores surplus automatically.
Simple setup
Configure once, everything runs in the background - customers adjust basics themselves.
Recurring revenue for installers
Earn monthly income through the SMA Premium Reward Program.
Integrated in your system
Preinstalled in all ennexOS-based SMA devices — simply activate and start saving.
Getting started with the SMA Energy Maximizer is fast and hassle‑free — it’s already built into all SMA devices powered by ennexOS, requires no extra hardware, and can be activated in just a few clicks.
No extra hardware needed
The Energy Maximizer is already integrated into all ennexOS‑based SMA devices — simply activate it during commissioning.
Activate and set up the free trial
Installers or customers can start the 90‑day SMA Premium trial in just a few clicks via the SMA Energy App, the 360° App or Sunny Portal. Initial settings can be configured directly during setup — no payment details required.
Go live and start earning
After the trial, customers can continue using Energy Maximizer via SMA Premium. Subscriptions are managed monthly and directly in the app — and every active subscription generates revenue for you.
*Availability and features may vary by country.
Built on 10+ years of energy management
Trusted in more than 420,000 homes worldwide — built on over a decade of energy management experience. Now evolving from manual control to automatic optimization, with built-in cybersecurity.
Energy Maximizer vs. Energy Planner
SMA Energy Planner
Prefer simple, rule-based control? Energy Planner gives you predictable, schedule-based energy management — ideal for stable operating conditions and straightforward use cases.
SMA Energy Maximizer
Want automatic optimization and lower bills automatically? Energy Maximizer continuously optimizes energy flows based on forecasts, tariffs and real-time data — with no manual intervention.
*Availability and features may vary by country.
Energy Management powered by ennexOS
Energy Maximizer and Energy Planner are already integrated into all ennexOS-based SMA devices — ready to use from day one.
Availability and features may vary by country.
Built on Sunny Home Manager experience
With more than a decade of experience and over 420,000 systems installed, the Sunny Home Manager has shaped energy management in residential PV systems. But energy systems are changing. More devices, dynamic tariffs and increasing complexity require a new approach.
SMA evolves energy management from a standalone device to an integrated, software-based solution — embedded directly in ennexOS-powered systems.
![[Translate to English:] Built on Sunny Home Manager experience](/fileadmin/_processed_/8/b/csm_SMA-device-based-control-to-integrated-software-2560_9acbbf6851.avif)
From installation to everyday use — real experiences from installers and homeowners.
SMA Energy Maximizer
The following electricity tariffs are supported:
Fixed electricity tariffs
Dynamic electricity tariffs (EPEX SPOT)
Flexible electricity tariffs
A distinction is made between feed-in tariffs and purchasing tariffs.
Wait 15 minutes and try again.
The Energy Maximizer is an intelligent cloud service that takes a wide range of data into account, such as electricity tariffs, PV yield forecasts and customer-specific consumption patterns. Based on this information, the Energy Maximizer identifies the optimum strategy for charging the battery, ensuring the lowest possible energy costs.
Yes.
The Energy Maximizer is currently approved in only a few countries. Please check the availability in your country on the product page at www.SMA-Solar.com.
Only in countries where the grid operator mandates a power limit.
The configuration can be carried out in Sunny Portal powered by ennexOS under [Configuration] > Tariffs.
It is important for the profitability calculation of your system that the tariff details are correct.
The dynamic electricity tariff
Dynamic tariffs are usually comprised of as follows (example):
Spot price
+ Exchange fees / margin of the provider: approx. €0.01–0.02/kWh
+ Grid fees (average): approx. €0.12/kWh
+ Legal levies (e.g. electricity tax 2.05 ct/kWh): approx. €0.0205/kWh
+ Concession fee: approx. €0.02/kWh
After VAT: markup gross: €0.20/kWh
This makes the effective final price = Spot price + €0.20/kWh.
There might be several reasons why the battery is not charging when the electricity rates are low, e.g.:
The energy prices remain relatively constant throughout the day. Since the Energy Maximizer also accounts for efficiency when charging and discharging, charging does not occur if doing so would result in a financial disadvantage for the customer.
Significant surplus PV energy is predicted. This is usually cheaper than grid current. In this case, the Energy Maximizer prefers using the surplus PV energy.
The system is configured in such a way as not to permit grid charging.
The Internet connection was interrupted for many hours. The system then runs in the fallback mode and does not know the current dynamic grid prices.
The predicted electrical load in the household is very low. Thus, there is no need to charge the battery.
There is a problem with the inverter or battery that prevents charging (e.g. over- or undertemperature).
There might be several reasons why a battery is not discharging even when it isn't empty, e.g.:
A portion of the battery capacity is reserved for emergency power or peak load shaving and this reserved capacity has already been reached.
Currently, the grid current is very inexpensive and the battery charge is to be saved for periods with higher electricity rates.
There is a problem with the inverter or battery that prevents discharging (e.g. over- or undertemperature).
The reason for this is the system parameter Parameter.Inverter.WMaxIn. This parameter limits the maximum input power of the inverter. If this value is lower than the set limit for peak load shaving, the battery cannot discharge any further.
Should you require an adjustment, contact your installer. They can adjust the settings via the Sunny Portal powered by ennexOS or via the user interface of the System Manager.
No, it is not possible to use the functions of the Energy Planner and Energy Maximizer at the same time. However, you can manually switch between the Energy Planner and the Energy Maximizer.
The devices communicate in a 5-minute interval. Communication errors or unexpected events may delay the update.
You can manually start the charging process via the Energy Planner.
You can manually start the discharging process via the Energy Planner.
The Energy Maximizer is linked to the subscription with SMA Premium. After deactivating SMA Premium, the system switches to the standard self-consumption mode and activates the Energy Planner.
The system switches to the fallback mode. The increased self-consumption and settings for peak load shaving remain active.
The Energy Maximizer analyzes the electricity rates within a planning period (1 to 2 days) and, depending on priority configuration, charges the battery even when the electricity rates are overall higher compared to previous days.
The minimum state of charge can only be adjusted via the settings for backup or peak load shaving.
If the discharge capacity of the battery is insufficient, raising the limit for peak load shaving may help and effectively reduce your billing based on capacity charges.
Yes.
Peak load shaving and backup reserve use the same battery capacity and are interdependent during configuration. Both reserves each start at 0% SOC.
To achieve the desired peak load shaving, the peak load shaving must be added to the configured backup reserve.
Example
Target: 40% SOC for peak load shaving
Backup reserve: 20 % SOC
= Setting of the peak load shaving: 60 % SOC
It is recommended to set the minimum state of charge between 40% and 50% SOC. A state of charge of 50% SOC can be used for the peak load shaving.
The backup reserve can only be configured if Emergency power or Automatic battery backup was first selected and configured. The installation wizard can be used for this on the local device.
No. A subscription is always required to use these functions.
After cancelling SMA Premium, the scope of functions reverts to the Energy Planner.
Make sure that you registered for the bonus program, including customer number and IBAN.
After the cancellation, the functions of the Energy Maximizer are no longer available. The system then switches to the standard self-consumption mode in the Energy Planner.
With SMA Premium, you will be able to access the SMA Energy Maximizer in addition to the SMA Energy Planner.
Upon successfully signing up for the subscription, the paid functions of the SMA Energy Maximizer will be activated for the respective system and can be configured in Sunny Portal powered by ennexOS.
Yes. You can try out SMA Premium for 90 days free of charge. During the trial period, you will have access to the full functional range of SMA Premium.
After 90 days, the trial period will end automatically unless you sign up for a paid subscription. The free trial version is only available once for each system. If this option is no longer shown, the trial version has already been used.
The free trial period ends automatically after 90 days unless you cancel beforehand.
After the trial period has ended, the following applies:
Access to the premium functions ends automatically.
All premium views and extended functions will be disabled.
Your product settings will be reset to the free standard functions (SMA Energy Planner).
No costs arise for you unless you sign up for a paid subscription.
If you wish to continue using SMA Premium, you can sign up for a paid monthly subscription at any time. After subscribing to SMA Premium, all its functions, including all configurations, will be reactivated.
You can view your contract number (subscription ID) anytime in the customer portal (https://portal.sma.energy/subscriptions).
Go to [My subscriptions]. There you can see your current SMA Premium subscription including the contract number, term and payment details. If you manage multiple subscriptions, they are also shown in this overview.
You can view your system information anytime in the customer portal at [My subscriptions] (https://portal.sma.energy/subscriptions).
Currently, only credit cards are accepted as a payment method for the SMA Premium subscription.
An SMA Premium subscription is valid for one month from the time of signing up.
The contract term renews automatically each month unless you cancel. The cancelation period is 14 days prior to the end of the individual contract term.
Yes. Your active SMA Premium subscription renews automatically each month, based on your personal contract/settlement date – not at the end of the month.
If you do not wish to continue using the subscription, you can cancel it at any time in the customer portal at [My subscriptions] (https://portal.sma.energy/subscriptions).
Please note that a 14-day cancelation period applies, effective at the end of the individual contract term.
Your credit card will be charged automatically at the beginning of each new billing month.
Example: If your subscription starts on the 14th of the month, your card will be charged no later than the 15th of the month. This payment pattern will repeat every month at the same time.
You can view the date of the next payment in the customer portal at [My subscriptions] (https://portal.sma.energy/subscriptions).
In order for your subscription to continue without interruptions, your credit card information should always be up to date. If your credit card on file is expired or locked and it cannot be charged, the following happens:
You will receive an e-mail notifying you that the payment failed.
You have 10 days to update your credit card information.
Your premium access remains fully active during this period.
If the information is not updated within 10 days, your subscription will be cancelled automatically.
You can subscribe to SMA Premium and use its functions again at any time.
If a payment could not be processed, for example due to an exceeded credit card limit or the card being blocked, the following happens:
You will receive an e-mail notifying you that the payment failed.
You have 10 days to update your credit card information.
Your premium access remains fully active during this period.
If the information is not updated within 10 days, your subscription will be cancelled automatically.
You can subscribe to SMA Premium and use its functions again at any time.
You can update your credit card information anytime in the customer portal at [My subscriptions]. The changes immediately apply to all future debits (https://portal.sma.energy/subscriptions).
Please check the following:
Credit card limit and approvals:
Make sure that you have sufficient funds available and that online payments are enabled for your card.
Contact to the credit card provider:
Repeated error messages may indicate security checks or a temporary lockout.
Checking your card information:
Check whether you correctly entered the credit card number, expiration date and security code.
Ensuring the card is valid:
Check whether your card is still active and not expired.
You can easily cancel your active SMA Premium subscription online.
To do this, open [My subscriptions] (https://portal.sma.energy/subscriptions) in the customer portal. There, you can cancel your subscription with just a few clicks at the earliest possible date. This is carried out in compliance with the 14-day cancelation period, effective at the end of the individual contract term.
This depends on whether you are in the free trial period or have a paid subscription.
Free 90-day trial period:
The trial version can be terminated at any time without a cancelation period.
Paid monthly SMA Premium subscription:
The subscription has a 14-day cancelation period by the end of the individual billing month. Please note that, unless you cancel your contract, your contract term automatically renews for an additional month each time.
When you cancel your subscription, it will remain active until the end of the current contract term.
Once the contract ends, the following happens:
SMA Premium is automatically deactivated.
All configurations from the SMA Premium's scope of functions will be reset to the free basic functions.
No further payments will be debited and you will receive no new invoices.
Your system will remain active in Sunny Portal powered by ennexOS, just SMA Premium's scope of functions will be disabled.
Your contract term is clearly displayed in the customer portal. You can find this information in the section [My subscriptions] (https://portal.sma.energy/subscriptions).
There you can see:
when your subscription started.
the status of your subscription, i.e. active, cancelled, expired.
when the next payment will be deducted.
when the subscription expires.
In this way, you can keep track of your subscription at all times.
If your existing subscription was terminated due to a failed payment, you can reactivate SMA Premium's functions at any time. To do this, simply subscribe to SMA Premium again via Sunny Portal powered by ennexOS. Upon successful completion, all SMA Premium functions will immediately be available to you again.
A new contract number will be assigned automatically.
Currently, it is not possible to pause a subscription.
If you do not currently need the SMA Premium functions, you can cancel your subscription at any time in the customer portal section [My subscriptions] (https://portal.sma.energy/subscriptions) and simply subscribe to it again as needed via Sunny Portal powered by ennexOS.
The SMA Premium subscription is not tied to a specific device, but to your system in Sunny Portal powered by ennexOS.
This means:
You can use your subscription on all devices (e.g. smartphone, tablet, PC) that show your system in Sunny Portal powered by ennexOS or in the SMA Energy App.
It is not possible to transfer the same subscription to multiple different systems.
No.
To use SMA Premium, an active Internet connection is required since the system data are retrieved via the Sunny Portal powered by ennexOS.
Without an Internet connection, the functions are not available.
Your invoices are automatically e-mailed to you monthly on your respective billing date.
You can view the date when the next payment is due in the customer portal at [My subscriptions] (https://portal.sma.energy/subscriptions).
You can view the date when the next payment is due in the customer portal at [My subscriptions] (https://portal.sma.energy/subscriptions).
Please note that no detailed payment overview is available in the customer portal. Please refer to your credit card statement for detailed information on charges that have already been processed.
Your SMA Premium subscription is always tied to your system in Sunny Portal powered by ennexOS, not to the inverter or other individual components.
Therefore, what exactly happens, depends on whether the Sunny Portal system itself remains unchanged or a new Sunny Portal system is created.
Replacement of a component without modifying the system in Sunny Portal powered by ennexOS:
If only individual components, e.g. an inverter, are replaced, but the system in Sunny Portal remains unchanged otherwise, the following applies:
Your SMA Premium subscription remains fully active.
All SMA Premium functions are still available to you.
No action is required on your part.
Modification of the system in Sunny Portal powered by ennexOS, i.e. creation of a new system:
If the system in Sunny Portal powered by ennexOS is created completely new, the following applies:
The SMA Premium functions are not available for the new Sunny Portal system.
Your existing subscription continues to be active, but is not linked to your new system.
You have to cancel the present subscription.
You can sign up for a new subscription for the new system in Sunny Portal powered by ennexOS.
No. An existing SMA Premium subscription is always tied to a system and cannot be transferred to another or new system.
If you switch your system or create a new one, you will need a new subscription for this new system.
Important information for existing customers:
If the SMA Premium functions are no longer needed on the old system, you have to cancel the current subscription.
A system in Sunny Portal powered by ennexOS can only be deleted after the associated subscription has been canceled.
If you are using Microsoft Edge as your web browser, activated tracking prevention may prevent you from selecting a credit card during checkout.
To continue the payment process, briefly disable the tracking prevention in Microsoft Edge and then restart the web browser. Then you should be able to select a credit card again.
Installation partners play an important part in ensuring that customers can make optimal use of SMA Premium. For this contribution, SMA offers a service fee.
All installers are eligible to participate who reside in countries where SMA Premium is sold.
Installation partners receive a monthly service fee amounting to 40% of the monthly fee (excluding value-added tax) that the customer pays for SMA Premium.
Prerequisite is that the installation partner, at the customer's request, is registered as the installer for the respective system in Sunny Portal powered by ennexOS, and has activated the free trial version of SMA Premium for that system.
The free trial version of SMA Premium can be configured as usual after registering the system in Sunny Portal powered by ennexOS via [Configuration] > Energy management. Activation is also possible using the SMA 360° app and the SMA Energy App. It is required that the installation partner, at the customer's request, is registered for the system in Sunny Portal powered by ennexOS with the user rights Installer.
Billing takes place quarterly. A credit note will be sent to you to the e-mail address on file. If a payment is made, it will be processed within 14 days of receipt of the credit note.
Installers participate in the SMA Premium Reward Program as soon as they have confirmed participation upon completing the first trial version. However, the service fee from the Reward Program is paid out only after the corresponding end customer has signed up for the paid subscription with the respective system and the subscription is active.
In the customer portal in the Rewards section, you can find our chatbot and the guided solution finder.
In the customer portal under Rewards, you can see for which systems you are registered as an installation partner for SMA Premium and whether these systems are currently in a free trial version or paid subscription.
The fee applies regardless of when the customer signs up for the paid SMA Premium subscription. The service fee is paid for each active SMA Premium subscription that meets the requirements for the SMA Premium Reward Program.
No. You will receive the fee for a system only for the period during which the customer has a paid SMA Premium subscription.
Yes. If a customer signs up for a paid SMA Premium again following a cancelation, you will receive the fee again.
It is important to properly configure the default settings (configured electricity tariffs and recorded PV modules and their orientation in Sunny Portal powered by ennexOS) so that the algorithm can make targeted calculations for the system.
The SMA eCharger and the SMA EV Charger Business both offer full integration and control.
Yes, the Energy Maximizer must be able to detect whether an electricity storage system is available for optimization. Currently, the Energy Maximizer only supports operating scenarios in which the system is supplemented by an electricity storage system.
Currently, the Energy Maximizer only supports operating scenarios in which both a PV system and an electricity storage system are present.
Yes, an energy meter must be installed at the point of interconnection.
The following products support the function as System Manager:
SBSExx-50
STPxx-50
EVC22-3AC-20
EDMM-20
STPHxx-60 / STPHxx-70
STPSxx-30
SIxx-20
Pay attention to the configuration of the System Manager and ensure that no Sunny Home Manager 2.0 is in the system as a main device.
No, the Sunny Home Manager 2.0 is not a product powered by ennexOS and therefore does not support this function. In systems with Sunny Home Manager 2.0, the old functionalities remain unchanged.
No. Only systems with configured System Managers are supported. Webconnect devices such as the Sunny Tripower CORE1 are not compatible.
However, SMA Premium can be used in systems with Sunny Tripower CORE1, for example, where a SMA Data Manager M is configured as System Manager, for example.
PV system with self-consumption option
Data communication
The following settings must be enabled so that both functions, including their optimization and control algorithms, can be used:
Closed-loop control (closed-loop control circuit)
optimized control
In order to be able to use energy management, the following settings must be configured locally:
External parameterization
Closed-loop control (closed-loop control circuit)
The maximum charge and discharge capacity may be limited by the Battery Management System automatically. This may happen in the following situations:
The ambient temperature is too high or too low:
At extreme temperatures, the system protects the battery by limiting its power. Especially at low temperatures, the charging power is greatly limited.
State of charge is at the upper or lower limit:
If the battery is almost full, charging at maxim power is not possible.
If it is almost empty, the discharge capacity is reduced.
No.
During configuration, there is a dependency between backup and peak load shaving. Both functions draw on the available battery capacity. The reserve for peak load shaving and backup always starts at 0% SOC. To achieve the desired peak load shaving, the peak load shaving must be added to the configured backup reserve.
Example: Target is 40% SOC for peak load shaving. If 20% backup reserve is configured, for example, 60% SOC peak load shaving must be set.
If the PV forecast does not match the actual generation, you can check in Sunny Portal powered by ennexOS whether the modules and tilt have been configured correctly. Open the Sunny Portal powered by ennexOS and navigate to [Configuration] > [System properties]. Check the details for Location and PV modules.
Another reason for a discrepancy could be shading of the PV modules.
Our load forecast shows what the power consumption in your system looks like during a typical week. To this end, we create a base load profile reflecting typical consumption patterns. If you however deviate from your routine such as running the washer and dryer on a different day than usual, our system does not initially detect this change. As a result, the forecast may temporarily not match the actual consumption
The following settings are available in the Energy Maximizer:
Electricity tariffs (feed-in tariff and grid-supplied power): With dynamic or variable electricity tariffs, the Energy Maximizer automatically shifts your power draw to cheap time windows
Peak load shaving: In some regions, part of your electricity costs is based on your highest power consumption. The energy management reduces your peak loads from the utility grid through smart control of your devices.
The parallel operation of SMA energy management systems with an energy management system of a third-party provider is not recommended as this may lead to unwanted interactions or inefficient operating states.
It is however possible to deactivate the SMA energy management in the System Manager. When this function is deactivated, the third-party energy management system can fully take over the system control.
SMA Energy Maximizer
