Energy Management System (EMS)
Companies invest a lot of money in energy storage systems, but without smart control the savings (return) remain limited and valuable energy is lost.
Smartbox is an innovative energy management system (EMS) that controls solar, wind, batteries, charging stations, generators and cooling in real time at the EPEX price and markets your flexibility on the balancing markets (FCR and aFRR), the imbalance market, control, reserve and emergency power and other energy markets.
Smartbox consumes and stores energy at the most economical times, and returns excess energy to the grid when rates are highest. Returning supplies at a negative rate is a thing of the past with Smartbox.
Smartbox
Smartbox is an advanced energy management system (EMS) that makes energy storage systems more efficient and profitable. The system monitors energy consumption and storage in real time and automatically adjusts the charging and discharging behavior of batteries based on current energy rates and the consumer profile.
For example, companies charge fully automatically during the cheapest hours and discharge when the electricity price is highest.
Smartbox can operate on various energy markets, such as EPEX, the imbalance market, control, reserve and emergency power, intraday trading and other markets. Balancing markets such as FCR and aFRR serves Smartbox through 10+ affiliated aggregators.
The system therefore not only helps to optimize self-consumption, but also takes advantage of opportunities such as peak shaving (reducing peak consumption to prevent grid congestion and additional costs) and energy transactions (supplying excess energy back to the grid at favorable times).
This ensures a more stable energy supply and opens up new revenue streams for end users.
Thanks to direct integration with sun, wind, batteries, charging stations, generators and cooling, energy installers offer a total solution for smart energy management with Smartbox. New asset brands are quickly integrated into Smartbox.
The smart control prevents unnecessary losses and ensures that energy is always used at the most profitable time.
Explanation
Smartbox offers a concrete solution to one of the biggest challenges in the current energy transition: grid congestion.
Grid congestion occurs when the electricity grid can no longer handle the generated and/or requested power, often because supply and demand are not properly matched. Companies will then be unable to supply the energy they generate, cannot purchase the required energy, or will have to deal with high costs during peak hours.
Companies invest a lot in batteries to store excess energy, but without smart control the return remains limited. Smartbox ensures that the battery is charged and discharged at the most strategic moments.
Energy is stored during low grid loads and consumed or returned when the grid is less loaded or when rates are favorable. This prevents grid overload and enables efficient and profitable energy use, despite grid congestion.
Smartbox
Smartbox is one platform in three versions, for any installation size. Smartbox Lite is the smart start for small business consumption (3×63 / 3×80 A): EPEX control of solar, battery and generator, ready for after netting, up to approx. 10 assets. Smartbox Regular is available for small and large consumption, SMEs and smaller companies: EPEX and balancing markets (FCR, aFRR) via aggregators, up to approximately 50 assets, also wind and cooling. Smartbox Pro offers maximum scale and depth for large-scale consumption, industry, agro and multi-site: 50+ assets, a tailor-made management strategy and asset insight down to cell and string level.
Smartbox
Get started with smart EPEX control for smaller connections.
Suitable for
Small business connections
3×63 / 3×80 A
Smartbox
Control, monitor and trade your energy flexibility.
Suitable for
Small & large connections
SMEs and smaller companies
Smartbox
Advanced control at scale for large installations.
Suitable for
Large connections
Industry, agro & multi-site
Specifications
One platform, three versions. The difference is in markets, monitoring and scale: from EPEX control for small-scale consumption to balancing markets and insight down to cell and string level.
| Specification | SmartboxLiteSmall connections | SmartboxRegularSmall & large connections | SmartboxProLarge connections |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connection & control | |||
| Day-ahead / EPEX price control | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Balancing markets FCR, aFRR, etc. via connected aggregators | Not available | Yes | Yes |
| Steering strategy adjustable per location | Via portal | Via portal | Customized by Smartbox |
| Monitoring & service | |||
| Telemetry via app iOS/Android | 1-minute data | Real time, resolution 1 sec. | Real time, resolution 1 sec. |
| Proactive monitoring faults resolved remotely, escalation via email | Not available | Yes | Yes |
| GTV monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Capacity & assets | |||
| Max. number of assets | up to approx. 10 | up to approx. 50 | 50+ |
| Supported assets | Sun, battery & charging stations | + wind, generator & cooling | + wind, generator & cooling |
| Asset insight | General | General | Down to cell and string level |
The stated numbers of assets are indicative. Subject to changes and typographical errors.
| Hardware | Lite | Regular | Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power supply | 7–24 V DCor 5 V via USB-C | 12VDC | 9–36 VDC |
| Network & USB | 2×100Mbps EthernetUSB-A 2.0USB-C 2.0 (OTG) | EthernetUSB-C | 1 × Gigabit Ethernet1×100Mbps Ethernet3 × USB-A 3.0, 1 × USB-A 2.0USB-C (service) |
| Dry contact | 2 × volt-free relay | 2 × volt-free relay | 2 × volt-free relay |
| RS485 | 1 × RS485 / RS422Shared port | 2×RS485 | 2×RS485 |
| Supported protocols | Modbus TCPModbus RTU via RS485 | Modbus TCPModbus RTU via RS485 | Modbus TCPModbus RTU via RS485 |
| Assembly | DIN rail | DIN rail | DIN rail / wall |
| Enclosure | Plastic | Aluminium | Aluminium |
| Dimensions | 72 (w) × 88 (h) × 61 (d) mm | 38 (w) × 88 (h) × 120 (d) mm | 198 (w) × 155 (h) × 68 (d) mm |
| Weight | 282 g | 800 g (net) | 1.28 kg (net) |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months |
| Operating temperature | −10 °C to 50 °C | −20 °C to 65 °C | −20 °C to 65 °C |
Fast integration into Smartbox of new asset brands.
Explanation
We develop and build the Smartbox Regular ourselves. The proprietary circuit board is designed by our R&D team and is assembled and tested before the Regular goes out.
Our proprietary software connects all three versions to the Smartbox platform. This allows us to quickly integrate with new brands and markets and resolve malfunctions remotely.
Smartbox Portal
Smart energy management does not stop with installation. With the Smartbox Portal on my.smartboxpower.com and the Smartbox app for iOS and Android, energy installers and their customers have full insight into energy storage and consumption.
This online platform offers real-time monitoring: insight into the energy flow, EPEX prices, grid consumption, energy input, battery status and yield from solar panels, wind turbines or generators at any time. With Smartbox Regular and Pro you see telemetry per second, with Smartbox Lite 1-minute data.
The portal is an indispensable tool for installers. You manage all your customer installations from one central environment, with access to detailed consumption data and performance of each system.
In addition, the platform offers profit predictions based on customer profiles, so that end users can immediately see how much they save or earn with their installation. Customers get a clear overview of their monthly savings and returns, including benchmarks and comparison tools.
You can connect the Smartbox to radiation meters and weather stations, so that the device can even make predictions about expected energy production. This way, energy installers and companies can not only inform customers, but also provide strategic advice about their energy use.
Integration
You can effortlessly integrate Smartbox with existing and new energy assets.
Benefits
Smartbox creates valuable opportunities for energy installers who want to expand their services, and for energy companies who want to play an active role in reducing grid congestion.
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Partners
We would be happy to add your energy company to this list.
Smartbox Power
The energy market is changing rapidly, and that requires smart solutions. Smartbox Power arose from the question of how to make maximum use of sustainable energy installations without constant manual intervention.
Many companies even switched off their systems when rates were negative: a clear signal that things had to change.
Our mission? Making sustainable energy available automatically and profitably for installers, energy companies and their customers, without them having to work on it every day. We want to play a crucial role in accelerating the energy transition.
Our R&D team in the Netherlands brings together knowledge of energy, automation and software development. We continue to build on the Smartbox platform from our own software. We are growing rapidly and are working on a leading position within the European market for smart EMS systems.
Please contact us
As an energy installation company or energy company, would you like to join Smartbox? Contact us and discover the possibilities of this innovative energy management system during an exploratory conversation.
