
Energy management isn’t always straightforward, especially when custom solutions are needed. The Victron Recommended Software Integrator Program connects companies with skilled software integrators who create custom solutions using Victron’s open ecosystem.
Green Power Solutions (GPSL), a UK-based company specialising in sustainable energy solutions, recently joined the program. Their flagship product, the 3MS platform, is a Software as a Service (SaaS) solution designed to simplify the monitoring, management, and control of off-grid assets. Here’s a closer look at the platform, the challenges it addresses, and two real-world examples of its application.
The 3MS Platform
“The idea for 3MS emerged from Andrew Shaw’s hands-on experience with Victron systems,” explains Sam Taylor, Co-Founder and CEO of GPSL. Andrew, GPSL’s Chief Technology Officer, has years of practical experience in installing, supporting, and optimising energy systems with Victron products. “We recognised that while Victron’s VRM platform is excellent for monitoring energy performance, certain industries needed more functionality and flexibility,” she adds.
To meet the unique needs of various industries, GPSL built the 3MS platform using Victron’s open ecosystem. At its core, the platform leverages the Victron Cerbo GX for collecting data and triggering alarms via digital inputs. MQTT ensures real-time updates and communication, while Modbus-to-MQTT translation enables compatibility with additional devices, such as fuel cell controllers and IoT sensors.
Key features of the 3MS Platform:
- Integration with Victron and IoT devices: Combines data from Victron’s Cerbo GX and VRM API with sensors for enhanced insights.
- AI-driven chatbot: Enables users to ask natural-language questions and receive actionable insights, such as:
- Listing assets where consumption exceeds solar production.
- Predicting assets likely to go offline within a week.
- Highlighting low battery alarms with troubleshooting steps.
- Calculating diesel generator runtime and energy consumption.
This feature reduces maintenance visits, increases uptime, and tracks environmental impact, such as CO₂ reductions equivalent to trees planted.
- Real-time monitoring and alerts: Utilises MQTT for second-by-second updates and proactive notifications.
- Scalability across industries: Serves construction, telecoms, security, and fleet management with tools tailored for each sector.
Case study 1: Sump pump monitoring
Challenge:
Newton Waterproofing Systems, a UK-based company, needed real-time monitoring for their sump pump systems to prevent water ingress. Traditional setups lacked data accuracy and timely alerts, making maintenance planning difficult. These systems were also expensive and relied on outdated 56kbps dial-up modems, which have now been replaced with a broadband always-on connection.
Solution:
GPSL used the 3MS platform to integrate Victron’s Cerbo GX into Newton’s systems. A dynamic map interface with visual indicators simplified monitoring, while features like water volume calculations and pump runtime tracking enabled proactive maintenance. The Cerbo, equipped with Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and digital inputs, provided a reliable interface for monitoring.
Key application-specific capabilities of the 3MS Platform include:
- Water level tracking through Cerbo GX digital inputs.
- Real-time condition updates via MQTT.
- Visual status tracking on a map interface for all pump locations.
The outcome? Reduced downtime, improved maintenance scheduling, and enhanced system reliability.
Case study 2: 100% uptime for off-grid CCTV towers
Challenge:
Off-grid security towers required a reliable energy supply, particularly during winter when solar production was low. Conventional systems struggled to maintain uptime in these conditions, leading to operational challenges.
Solution:
Using the 3MS platform, GPSL optimised energy use by:
- Monitoring battery levels and solar input via Victron’s Cerbo GX and VRM API.
- Offloading energy-intensive tasks, such as live stream monitoring and motion detection, to the cloud to minimise hardware load.
- Providing real-time alerts and insights for battery and system status.
The system achieved 100% uptime for all security cameras on the shortest day of the year, with a steady increase in battery state of charge. This solution provided reliable surveillance, optimised energy usage, and reduced environmental impact.
Resources for installers and software integrators
The Victron Recommeneded Software Integrator Program enables companies like GPSL to extend the capabilities of Victron systems. By combining their expertise with Victron’s hardware and APIs, integrators can create tailored solutions for industries with specific needs.
If you’d like to learn more about Green Power Solutions and their 3MS Platform, you can visit their website here.
If you are an installer or a software integrator, here are some links that might be useful for you:
- To find a software integrator for your project, have a look at our Victron Recommended Software Integrators list.
- Are you a software integrator? Take the next step and apply here.
- To learn more about the Software Integrator Program, please read our first blog post in the series, Introducing our new Software Integrator Program.
If you need any assistance or would like to share your story about the Software Integrator Program, please get in touch with us at softwareintegrators@victronenergy.com. We’d love to hear about your projects and see the innovative solutions you’re creating!