ConnectDER Unlocks Residential Solar + Battery Growth With Launch Of IslandDER™ Meter Socket Adapter, Simplifying Home Backup Installations

IslandDER™ brings whole-home isolation directly to the meter socket for easier installations, reduced labor costs, and faster Permission To Operate (PTO) approval—integrated with systems from SolarEdge, FranklinWH, Lunar Energy, and EcoFlow.

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ConnectDER, the leading developer of plug-and-play meter socket adapters (MSAs), today announced the launch of its next-generation product, IslandDER™, designed to accelerate residential solar and storage installs as a standardized backup solution. Its strategic approach gives installers optionality to choose the battery system that fits their customers needs, while de-risking their business from supply chain issues and accelerating timelines to PTO.

Unlike other meter collar manufacturers in the market that lock installers into using their entire product suite, IslandDER™ is compatible with multiple leading batteries including the SolarEdge Nexis Solution, FranklinWH's aPower 2 and aPower S, Lunar Energy's Lunar System, and EcoFlow's OCEAN Pro—with an additional 22 partnership agreements in place.

Installed in 15-30 minutes, IslandDER™ streamlines partial- and whole-home backup by integrating "islanding" functionality—the ability to safely disconnect from the grid and keep the power on during an outage—directly into the meter socket via its built-in Microgrid Interconnect Device (MID) and Consumption Current Transformers (CTs), effectively eliminating the need for complex electrical work. IslandDER™ can save installers hours to days on battery energy storage system (BESS) installs while homeowners avoid surprise costs that can suddenly put electrification out of budget—and out of reach.

"The residential energy storage market is at a critical inflection point, but its full potential has been constrained as installers must choose between labor-intensive battery installations or locking their customers into a closed ecosystem," said Ivo Steklac, ConnectDER's President and CEO. "IslandDER™ is the breakthrough that unlocks this growth, saving installers countless hours on the job site and giving them the flexibility to deliver the best possible battery backup solution for their customers—whether that's for a new install or adding backup to an existing solar setup. By launching with four of the industry's most innovative battery partners and with more in the pipeline, we are giving installers a universal solution that accelerates the industry as a whole."

Nearly half of all U.S. owner-occupied homes are more than 40 years old, built during or before the 1980s and with electrical service that is inadequate for installing distributed energy resources (DER) like solar panels, energy storage, or EV chargers. A main panel upgrade alone can cost a homeowner anywhere between $5,000-$25,000. Even when an upgrade is not required, older homes often come with other risk factors like structural challenges, tight spaces, and outdated wiring that make any extra electrical work unpredictable and laborious for installers—slowing down their install speed and delaying how long it takes to achieve PTO, which is when they get paid.

Other common methods used to enable whole-home backup, like circuit relocation, can still add hours or even days to the project duration—and thousands of dollars to the homeowner's quoted price. This is particularly relevant in the Western U.S., where meter-main combination service panels are prevalent, but do not provide the necessary space for an installer to install a MID device. IslandDER™ solves this with ease by incorporating the voltage sensing, CTs, and isolation switch (the MID) all in one, right at the meter socket.

IslandDER™ joins ConnectDER's lineup of installer-backed, field-proven MSAs including their Solar MSA and EV MSA. ConnectDER's MSAs are currently approved in 44 utilities across 24 states with strong residential renewable energy adoption—reaching 50 million serviceable households nationwide. IslandDER™ has already been approved in multiple markets including an active pilot phase in California, which saw battery attachment rates skyrocket to 60% in recent years thanks to NEM 3.0, the state's updated net billing tariff implemented in 2023. Sunrun, the largest residential solar installer in the U.S. and an early adopter of ConnectDER's MSAs, is seeing 70% battery attachment this year nationwide, up from 54% a year ago, heavily influenced by California's storage demand.

IslandDER™ is expected to be available to purchase through distribution in Q4, 2025. Contact [email protected] to talk to a ConnectDER regional sales representative.

"ConnectDER's IslandDER™ unlocks a powerful new level of simplicity for residential storage," said Alex Dinh, Director of Residential Product Management at SolarEdge. "By incorporating it into our portfolio as the SolarEdge Nexis IslandDER™, we've dramatically simplified whole-home backup. Installations that once required costly upgrades and electrical work can now be completed quickly at the meter socket, freeing up installers to deliver more projects, faster, and helping more families achieve energy independence."

"We are excited to partner with ConnectDER to introduce a meter adapter solution to the residential energy storage market," said Ke Bi, COO of FranklinWH. "This milestone strengthens FranklinWH's management of the home energy management ecosystem. The FranklinWH System is already recognized for fast installation and commissioning, and the integration with IslandDER™ will further simplify the process by eliminating the need for costly meter panel upgrades. Combining IslandDER™ with FranklinWH's aPower 2 and aPower S batteries will deliver homeowners a complete, flexible whole-home energy storage solution—while significantly reducing installation time and cost."

"At Lunar, our work is focused on delivering great experiences for installers and homeowners alike. Our partnership with ConnectDER serves both," said Ed Gunn, Lunar Energy Vice President. "Together, we offer our customers more design flexibility and faster installations to electrify even more homes."

About ConnectDER:

ConnectDER has been a pioneer in designing and developing meter socket adapters (MSAs) since 2011, simplifying the connection of distributed energy resources (DER) such as solar, battery storage, and electric vehicle charging equipment. ConnectDER's products help accelerate installations, avoid complex electrical work, and reduce costs for both installers and homeowners—making renewable energy solutions more accessible and affordable for all. ConnectDER's MSAs are UL-listed and NEC-compliant, approved by utilities across the U.S., and used by top local, regional, and national solar installers. For more information, visit www.connectder.com.

About SolarEdge:

SolarEdge is a global leader in smart energy technology. By leveraging world-class engineering capabilities and with a relentless focus on innovation, SolarEdge creates smart energy solutions that power our lives and drive future progress. SolarEdge developed an intelligent inverter solution that changed the way power is harvested and managed in photovoltaic (PV) systems. The SolarEdge DC optimized inverter seeks to maximize power generation while lowering the cost of energy produced by the PV system. Continuing to advance smart energy, SolarEdge addresses a broad range of energy market segments through its PV, storage, EV charging, batteries, and grid services solutions. SolarEdge is online at www.solaredge.com.

About FranklinWH:

FranklinWH Energy Storage is the manufacturer of the FranklinWH system. FranklinWH is a market-oriented, research-driven company focused on next-generation residential energy management and storage solutions. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, FranklinWH's team has decades of experience in energy systems, from design, through manufacturing, to sales and installation. FranklinWH is AVL-listed with multiple financial institutions. Learn more about how homeowners can achieve energy freedom at www.franklinwh.com.

About Lunar Energy:

Lunar Energy powers homes around the world with endless clean energy. Founded in 2020, Lunar engineers the world's best clean energy products to electrify homes and connect communities to form clean, resilient virtual power plants. The fast-growing, global company is delivering an ecosystem of all-electric products to make electricity greener, air cleaner, and energy more secure and reliable for everyone. Learn more at www.lunarenergy.com.

About EcoFlow:

EcoFlow is a leading provider of eco-friendly energy solutions, committed to powering a new world. Since its founding in 2017, EcoFlow has aimed to be the FIRST in power solutions—Flexible, Innovative, Reliable, Simple, and Thorough—for individuals and families, whether at home, outdoors or on the go. With a smart manufacturing center in China, and headquarters in the USA, Germany and Japan, EcoFlow has empowered over 5 million users in 140 markets worldwide. For more information, visit www.ecoflow.com/us.

Media Contact:

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SOURCE ConnectDER, Inc.