Samsung is integrating Singapore-based Maxeon Solar Technologies’ SunPower One residential energy system into the SmartThings connected home platform.

This integration is intended to let homeowners increase their energy independence, save money and contribute to a cleaner environment.

SmartThings is Samsung’s open smart home platform letting hundreds of millions of homeowners globally monitor, control and automate their connected devices inside and around the home.

The parties have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and the initial plan is to connect the SunPower One ecosystem of clean energy products and services with SmartThings Energy, a home energy option within the SmartThings app.

Data about electricity production and system status from relevant Maxeon products in the home, such as Maxeon and Performance line panels and the company’s SunPower reserve battery storage option, will be shared with the SmartThings Energy dashboard, providing homeowners with visualisation and control. For example, homeowners can use periods of excess solar production to trigger the dashboard, which will pre-heat specific rooms in the home through a Samsung heat pump, promoting self-consumption of renewable energy and electricity bill savings.

“Consumers have seen their relationship with energy change rapidly over the past few years and now desire modern options that enable them to realise more value from their energy systems,” said Bill Mulligan, Maxeon CEO. “The collaboration with Samsung is intended to do just that. It has never been more important for our end-customers to take a more active role in their domestic energy consumption, understand how much money they can save by switching to clean energy sources and how much carbon they can keep from entering the atmosphere. We look forward to collaborating with Samsung and to exploring further business synergies as they arise.”

The companies will also evaluate future integration opportunities to cover electric vehicle chargers, jointly offered grid services such as virtual power plant programmes, and cross-sales and lead-generation of core products including appliances, displays and solar systems.

“We are excited to collaborate with key partners like Maxeon to unlock innovation that promotes cost savings and contributes to a lower carbon footprint for energy-conscious homeowners,” said Chanwoo Park, executive vice president at Samsung Electronics. “The goal of SmartThings Energy has always been to make it easier for consumers to take advantage of energy saving opportunities with their smart appliances, and this partnership takes that commitment a step further, improving the overall home energy environment.”

Ralf Elias, chief product officer at Maxeon, added: “We are pursuing alliances with category leaders around the world to provide new, compelling and comprehensive ways for end-consumers to take control of their domestic energy usage. Samsung is constantly exploring new horizons on consumers’ relationship with technology, and now energy, and shares a sizable base of common customers with Maxeon across Europe and Asia. We believe through partnerships like this, Maxeon’s customers will be able to make more informed choices about their energy consumption to save money and lead a more eco-conscious lifestyle.”

Maxeon Solar Technologies is headquartered in Singapore and leverages over 35 years of solar energy experience and more than 1400 patents to design innovative and sustainably made solar panels and energy options for residential, commercial and power plant users. Its integrated home energy management is a flexible ecosystem of products and services built around the SunPower branded solar panels that enable consumers to take control of their domestic energy consumption. The firm has a network of more than 1700 partners and distributors, and more than one million customers worldwide.