Announcing GridFabric

GridFabric builds on years of experience to bring load shifting middleware to the mass market

2 minute read ∙ Sep 25th, 2019

We are excited to officially launch GridFabric, the provider of middleware for the clean energy revolution.

GridFabric was formerly Nebland and its subsidiary OADR Services, and is able to launch with the expertise, track record and product suite gained from helping dozens companies add OpenADR capabilities to their products and gain certification with the OpenADR alliance. GridFabric expands on that mission with the overall mandate to continue providing elegant software solutions that simplify integrations into load shifting programs, allowing utilities and their partners to control more devices and optimize grid operations.

We launch with two product lines based on the tried and true Nebland products - Plaid (Client) and Canvas (Server) - which together facilitate communication between power consuming, internet connected products and utilities or load aggregators, respectively. Plaid and Canvas do not both need to be present for successful programs: both products will be able to add value individually or together in any demand response or load shifting program that implements OpenADR.

Plaid

Plaid sits on the demand side, and is implemented by companies that make and control products such as thermostats, water heaters, EV chargers, building/lighting controls systems, etc*. Plaid sits on top of existing device controls systems, and acts as the translation layer between OpenADR signals and the product company's APIs. This helps product companies get quickly up to speed and focus primarily on implementing load shifting logic and getting value for themselves and their end customers by participating in load shifting progrms, rather than learning the intricacies of OpenADR.

Canvas

Canvas sits on the supply side, and is operated by utilities and grid operators, or load aggregators that work with them. It is an OpenADR VTN that is responsible for registering, monitoring and communicating with end use devices.

In some special situations, Plaid might be required further up the stack, and Canvas might be required further down the stack, especially if OpenADR is being used. We can discussed any complex situations you might have.

What does this mean for you?

In the short term, this can be thought of simply as a re-branding. For our existing and upcoming customers, nothing changes, except we will be doing business as GridFabric.

In the longer term, expect to see more investment in new and improved products, including providing our customers enhancements on the core OpenADR capabilities, and expanding the product suite into other relevant protocols such as IEEE 2030.5, CTA 2045, and more.

Ben DuPont and Matt Hale, GridFabric co-founders