How it works

SolarNetwork is an open source energy management platform that enables our users to monitor, control, and optimise their energy ecosystem in real-time.

SolarNode

SolarNode is the swiss army knife for IoT monitoring and control. It is deployed on inexpensive computers in homes, buildings, vehicles, and even EV chargers, connected to any number of sensors, meters, building automation systems, and more.

SolarNet

A secure and scalable cloud platform for storing and retrieving data collected by SolarNode devices. With SolarNet you can instruct and administer nodes remotely, no matter your distance.

SolarApp

Your own application integrated with SolarNetwork through the SolarNet API, able to make meaningful decisions from the data collected by your nodes and take action to manage the devices connected to them.

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A Day in the Life of SolarNetwork

Our platform works night and day, gathering data from SolarNode devices. Nodes are deployed on energy generating assets like solar arrays or wind farms, storage devices like batteries, and energy consumers like homes and electric vehicles. As power is transferred between generators and consumers, the nodes collect data and send it to SolarNet, allowing your own applications to track and manage the flows of energy.

Imagine a day in the life of SolarNetwork as used by a power company that needs to manage the load on the grid.

- As energy is generated by solar panels and wind farms SolarNodes capture data about their operations and save it to SolarNet.
- With people out at work, homes may use less energy, and a home with solar panels can supply power to the grid.
- Energy stored in electric vehicles is depleted as they travel on their routes.
- SolarNetwork helps the company keep track of how much energy is generated and used.
- As circumstances change, SolarNetwork helps the company manage power use and redistribute the load on the grid.
- Their application monitors the data collected by SolarNodes and issues instructions to the nodes through SolarNet.
- When clouds roll in, the solar panels generate less energy.
- Grid-scale batteries are asked to supply power, factories are asked to reduce their energy consumption temporarily, and electric vehical chargers are asked to delay charging.
- At night, the company's power-management needs change again.
- Solar panels stop generating energy, but demand on the grid is reduced as factories close and people go to sleep.
- The application uses SolarNet to ask grid-scale batteries to supply power to the grid, or recharge as needed.
- The application also uses SolarNet to manage electric vehicle charging to make sure the load on the grid is spread over time.

- As energy is generated by solar panels and wind farms SolarNodes capture data about their operations and save it to SolarNet.
- With people out at work, homes may use less energy, and a home with solar panels can supply power to the grid.
- Energy stored in electric vehicles is depleted as they travel on their routes.
- SolarNetwork helps the company keep track of how much energy is generated and used.
- As circumstances change, SolarNetwork helps the company manage power use and redistribute the load on the grid.
- Their application monitors the data collected by SolarNodes and issues instructions to the nodes through SolarNet.
- When clouds roll in, the solar panels generate less energy.
- Grid-scale batteries are asked to supply power, factories are asked to reduce their energy consumption temporarily, and electric vehical chargers are asked to delay charging.
- At night, the company's power-management needs change again.
- Solar panels stop generating energy, but demand on the grid is reduced as factories close and people go to sleep.
- The application uses SolarNet to ask grid-scale batteries to supply power to the grid, or recharge as needed.
- The application also uses SolarNet to manage electric vehicle charging to make sure the load on the grid is spread over time.

Example: a live-data kiosk or dashboard

You’d like to display your energy use and generation in an accessible way on your own website, a large-screen kiosk in your office, and your mobile app.

SolarNetwork architecture diagram for a dashboard app

Deploy SolarNode devices at your energy-consuming and energy-producing sites
The nodes collect the data and send it to both SolarNet and SolarFlux (SolarNetwork’s real-time data service)
With the help of our partners you develop a HTML dashboard site that integrates with SolarFlux to receive live data updates and SolarNet to pull out historic data
Your HTML dashboard can be displayed on your website, kiosk, and mobile app

SolarNetwork Foundation

For people and planet

Our charitable aim is to protect the environment through supporting energy education and using technology to help people understand energy conservation and renewable energy.

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