GroSolar and Locus Energy Take PV System Monitoring to Next Level

Vermont-based groSolar and New York-based Locus Energy may have a match made in heaven. The two firms recently joined forces to bring PV system monitoring to the next level.

According to an article in Distributed Energy titled “Energy Monitoring Goes Open- Source,” smart grids, smart meters and energy monitoring are powerful buzz categories these days in renewable energy.

“Now, groSolar and Locus Energy, LLC are taking solar photovoltaic (PV) system monitoring and whole house energy data to the next level by making a powerful new open-source monitoring platform available to groSolar's nationwide network of dealer-installers,” the article states.

The Locus platform integrates with groSolar's proprietary PV monitoring system, groEnergy Watch, and integrates data from any inverter or revenue-grade meter to provide a complete turnkey monitoring solution for residential and commercial PV installations.

Based in White River Junction, Vermont, groSolar is one of North America’s premier distributors, installers, and integrators of solar energy solutions for residential and commercial installations. Founded in 1998, groSolar is the largest wholly American-owned installation and distribution company in the solar industry. The company has offices and warehouses across the US, distributing solar electric and solar hot water systems from offices in Vermont, New Jersey, New York, Conneticutt, Massachussetts, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and California. 

groSolar integrates components from leading solar manufacturers including Canadian Solar, Motech, Heliodyne, SMA, Fronius, and UniRac into simple solar energy solutions for customers that enable them to generate clean, reliable energy for decades. groSolar states it is “a mission-driven company dedicated to providing high quality solar energy solutions and whole energy appreciation. groSolar’s venture capital investors include NGP Energy Technology Partners, SJF Ventures, and Calvert Social Investment Fund.”

Mike Herzig, president of Locus Energy, said his company is excited to integrate its revenue-grade solar metering platform with groEnergy Watch, groSolar's proven PV monitoring system.

"This is an open-architecture solution, which works with any inverter hardware and can also provide real-time energy consumption data,” Herzig said. “We think groSolar's extensive network and history of innovation in renewable energy makes it an ideal partner in this area."

Locus Energy is a provider of software solutions to the distributed renewable energy market. The company was founded in 2007, and has developed a web-based platform that enables project stakeholders to maximize the efficiency and transparency of installed systems. Locus’ software aggregates performance data from a network of distributed renewable systems and provides customized interfaces and analytics to owners, operators, financiers and regulators.

The Locus team is comprised of experienced professionals from the IT consulting and clean tech industries. Locus Energy and its team are "committed to accelerating the ongoing global transition to renewable energy by providing real-time intelligence and management services at the point of use."  The team's goal is to deliver soft grid services that pave the way for wide-scale adoption of clean energy generation.

“Dealers will now be able to view data originating from different vendor solutions using one easy-to-use proven platform; GRO Energy Watch,” said Wayne St. Jacques, groSolar CIO. “This ‘single-pane of glass provides ‘energy-performance transparency’ in an extremely cost-effective manner, supported by a flexible, scalable, open-source platform.”

The Locus platform with groEnergy Watch will be available to dealers in February 2010.

Image courtesy of groSolar