ABB Nsight vs OpenEMS
ABB Nsight
abb.comOpenEMS
openems.ioSide by side
| Figure | ABB Nsight | OpenEMS |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 3 | 0 |
| Spec score · Energy Management Software | 7.5 (#12) | 7.1 (#15) |
| Deployment | ABB describes onboarding that includes discovery and demo, site assessment, training and go-live, and ongoing support. | The getting-started guide describes production deployment of Edge and Backend on Debian/Ubuntu or Docker. |
| Founded | 1988 | 2016 |
| Integrations | ABB says Nsight can connect with ERP, BMS, SCADA, AMI and IoT systems, and can use open APIs and flexible protocols. | The OpenEMS Ready list includes integrations across energy storage, batteries, solar and battery inverters, EV charging stations, meters, tariffs, and data services. |
| Intended users | ABB describes Nsight as serving industrial operators seeking visibility into site energy use and carbon performance. | The marketplace describes an ecosystem for hardware manufacturers, software developers, research institutes, universities, freelancers, and students. |
| Purpose | ABB Nsight is a cloud-based analytics platform that centralizes energy and carbon data and provides real-time insights and AI-powered optimization. | OpenEMS is a modular open-source platform for monitoring, controlling, and integrating energy storage, renewable energy sources, and complementary devices and services. |
| Security | ABB says data is hosted on ABB Ability cloud, encrypted at rest and in transit, and protected with outbound-only data flow and two-factor authentication. | The documented Backend-to-Backend API supports BasicAuth when a connection is opened. |
| Support | The subscription comparison lists onboarding and training sessions and 24/7 support for all three levels. | The project invites users to get in touch through the OpenEMS Community forum and says it is glad to support third parties taking their first steps. |
Plans
ABB Nsight
- BaselinePriced on request
- OptimizePriced on request
- Real-timePriced on request
In their own words
ABB Nsight
ABB Nsight is a cloud-based analytics platform for industrial operators seeking visibility into site energy use and carbon performance. It centralizes water, air, gas, electricity, and steam data in one dashboard and includes utility bill and tariff analysis. The platform supports greenhouse gas baselining, reporting, and real-time monitoring for Scopes 1 and 2. Its listed levels cover reporting and tariff analysis, real-time meter and significant energy user monitoring, and optimization tools such as grid prediction, demand response optimization, and automated load curtailment. ABB says Nsight connects with ERP, BMS, SCADA, AMI, and IoT systems using open APIs and flexible protocols. It is designed to use existing meters, sensors, and systems without requiring new hardware in most cases. ABB describes encryption at rest and in transit, outbound-only data flow, and two-factor authentication, and states compliance with SOC 2 Type II, ISO/IEC 27001, and NIST standards. All three subscription levels include onboarding, training, and 24/7 support. The platform is available on web and via API; pricing is on request.
OpenEMS
OpenEMS is a free, modular open-source platform for monitoring, controlling, and integrating energy storage, renewable sources, and related devices and services. Its stack combines OpenEMS Edge for on-site device communication and control, OpenEMS UI for browser and smartphone access, and OpenEMS Backend for connecting Edge systems over the internet for aggregation, monitoring, and control. The architecture supports fast PLC-like control and reusable device-independent algorithms. Integrations cover batteries, solar and battery inverters, EV chargers, meters, tariffs, and data services, using interfaces such as MQTT, Modbus/TCP, Modbus/RTU, InfluxDB, M-Bus, 1-Wire, JSON/REST, and JSON/Websocket. Edge and Backend use Eclipse Public License 2.0; UI uses GNU Affero General Public License 3. Production deployment guidance covers Debian, Ubuntu, or Docker, and Java 21 is required. Source is available online and on GitHub, with monthly releases described. The getting-started setup is intended for testing, not production.