Industry leaders discuss transforming household energy systems with AI and smart technologies

At the IFA 2026 electronics fair in Berlin, industry leaders gathered to discuss the future of household energy, exploring how connected technologies, real-time data, and artificial intelligence are transforming energy systems.

Under the theme "Energy. Value. Future., From Power Supply to a Smarter Way of Living," the panel featured experts from BLUETTI, BSW-Solar, Shelly Group, and Flatpeak. The discussion centered on how solar, energy storage, and smart home devices are evolving from standalone products into integrated, intelligent home energy systems.

The panelists highlighted the growing role of households in energy management. "The energy transition is increasingly becoming part of everyday life," said Thomas Seltmann, Solar Technology & Storage Officer at BSW-Solar. "Households are taking a more active role in generating, storing, and managing their own energy, but to scale this up, we need easy-to-integrate solutions that support an open and reliable energy ecosystem. We also need clear safety standards to ensure consumer safety and legal certainty."

Mircho Mirev, Head of Integrations at Shelly Group, emphasized the importance of seamless integration for smart energy systems. "The next step is not just connecting more devices, but enabling them to work together seamlessly," he stated. "Open integrations, reliable signal exchange, and system resilience are crucial for creating a truly intelligent energy ecosystem."

Tom Hibbard, Co-founder and Head of Sales at Flatpeak, discussed the role of real-time data in optimizing energy use. "A home battery's intelligence comes from the price signal it responds to," he explained. "Connecting BLUETTI's systems to live tariff data ensures they charge when power is cheapest and cleanest, and discharge when it isn't, without the household needing to think about it."

Tristan Rayner, an expert energy journalist from pv magazine and ESS News, added that real-time data and AI can make home energy management more predictive and automated. "Adding solar and storage can give households a 'lightbulb moment' by revealing their energy use, savings possibilities, and a broader understanding of the energy world," he said. "The industry's opportunity is to deliver real value through such insights."

The panel underscored the vision of BLUETTI, a technology pioneer in clean energy since 2013. With in-house research and development and a growing portfolio of patents, BLUETTI continues to set standards for performance, safety, and sustainability. The company has empowered over 3.5 million users across 120+ countries with tailored power solutions for consumer, household, and commercial and industrial sectors.

The discussion highlighted the critical need for open standards, reliable data exchange, and supportive market frameworks to accelerate the adoption of smarter energy systems. As the industry moves forward, the focus will be on creating seamless, intelligent, and scalable home energy ecosystems that enhance household energy management and contribute to the broader energy transition.