voltit

VoltIt is a standardized open hardware–software platform for real-time voltage regulation and energy management in electrical distributions. It is designed to optimize voltage profiles, improve power quality, and facilitate the integration of distributed energy resources such as solar and storage. The platform combines modular power‑electronics modules with sensors and a software stack that can run on edge devices, on premises, or in the cloud.

VoltIt originated as a collaborative project among universities and industry partners in Europe, announced in 2018. An open specification and reference implementations were released in 2021, with the goal of enabling interoperable hardware and software components from multiple vendors. The project emphasizes open standards, modularity, and reproducible testing to support varied grid contexts.

The hardware layer consists of smart regulators, sensor hubs, and bidirectional converters that connect to existing distribution equipment. The software layer provides real-time voltage optimization algorithms, device orchestration, and data analytics. It supports common industrial protocols such as IEC 61850 and Modbus, and uses MQTT for cloud‑edge communication. The reference stack is released under an open‑source license, with optional commercial support.

VoltIt is designed for microgrids, campuses, and data centers, where it can smooth voltage swings, reduce line losses, and defer equipment upgrades. Early deployments report improved voltage stability and higher hosting capacity for solar and storage. Adoption remains focused on pilot projects and utilities experimenting with interoperable energy management components.

See also: microgrid, energy management system, power electronics.