[projectvrm] Very VRM-y grid-tie solar panel

["T.Rob" < >]

The Solar Liberator is pretty cool in its own right.  The smaller versions are portable 25W and 100W units with integrated inverter, smart battery and control electronics delivered as an appliance. Plug and go.  The 500W unit is designed as a rooftop or ground install, chainable to 4 units, with 1KWH battery but expandable to 4, and wired for external lead-acid banks. A few of these could power a good-sized home with battery backup for 8 hours at peak demand.  The units are all grid-tie (plug into a hot outlet to slow, stop or if you have net metering, reverse your mains meter) and the 500W unit also works with a transfer switch.

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/solar-liberator/x/5763458

 

All of this of course requires some software.  What caught my eye was the very last item in the FAQ:

 

22. Will we have control of the “data” or is it all going to a central cloud?

 

Yes – you absolutely have control over whether the data gathered by the internal software ever leaves the boundaries of your privacy. You have the option to enable/ disable ‘Anywhere Monitoring’, which works via our servers and accessed via the smart phone app.

 

Bingo!  This vendor's business model does not require receipt of any data to be profitable.  Where they do ask for data, they give you compelling functionality in return.  This is EXACTLY what I've been describing.  There's no attempt to coax some existing vendor to change their business model and let us have access to our data, pretty please.  I honestly doubt the first big wave of VRM will come from established big players.  I'm guessing startups like this one will prove the value of the model and only then the bigger players will enter the market en masse.  Not that I won't keep trying.  I've been talking with a guy at Lowes who really likes the idea and am hoping to get a meeting with some of their LOB project managers.  Fingers crossed.

 

What I do not yet know about the solar panels is if there's an API and local access to the data or if disabling 'Anywhere Monitoring' = disabling all monitoring. Doesn't seem likely the app only works from their cloud based on the description of the local Wi-Fi config, but I've asked the project creators for clarification.

 

(Indiegogo gave me an error on the payment screen and I ended up with two hefty approved charges but not registered as a backer, so my query to the project creators is not publicly visible.  I'll follow up with the answer when and if I receive one.)

 

-- T.Rob