Imagine a severe storm knocks out a neighborhood powerline; while most homes go dark, one homeowner seamlessly manages their backup energy, prioritizing critical appliances. This is not the future—it is happening now with SPAN’s smart electrical panel.
SPAN is the only startup company to go through two of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL’s) startup assistance programs: the Shell GameChanger Accelerator Powered by NREL (GCxN) and the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2). SPAN created a smart electrical panel that goes beyond traditional capabilities, allowing users to control individual circuits for individual devices. SPAN also has an app that provides users with a dashboard to keep track of the connected appliances and electric loads. The panel provides real-time visibility into a homeowner’s energy consumption, broken out by individual breakers, so homeowners can prioritize different loads during a power outage, while utilities can gain insight into grid flexibility strategies.
When NREL Senior Engineer Bethany Sparn had SPAN’s smart panel installed in a lab, all the laboratory electricians were excited about it.
“The electrician that installed the panel asked me how it worked, and I explained that every circuit had a dedicated power meter and relay, all hidden in the backplate of the panel,” Sparn said. “They thought it was really cool. The SPAN panel shook up the world of breaker panels in a way that feels like the early days of smart thermostats. They created a product that would be beneficial to utilities and consumers.”
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