FTW

FTW is an open-source system for coordinating supported solar, batteries and EV charging in a home. It is best suited to technically capable private-household users who can host and configure it themselves. Its planning and local safeguards are promising, but the early beta and narrow Energyplan licensing terms call for care.

Overview

FTW brings devices from different manufacturers into a household energy plan. Energyplan weighs charging needs, electricity prices and tariffs, solar output, household forecasts, battery state and efficiency to decide how energy should be used. FTW Core checks proposed plans and commands against site and equipment limits, and keeps a local fallback available if the planner is unavailable.

This division is a practical strength: planning can account for several competing household inputs, while local checks provide a separate control layer. It is not a guarantee that every device or function will work together. Meter and equipment support depends on the model, firmware and verified functions.

Key features

Planning, control and status

Active control requires a working site meter and a confirmed main fuse rating. If required site-meter data goes stale, FTW stops dispatch rather than continuing on unreliable readings. That is a meaningful safety boundary, but it also makes a dependable meter setup essential for anyone expecting automatic control.

The beta distinguishes devices that follow FTW, are waiting, are limited or need attention. It uses device readings and, where available, separate meter confirmation. The status cues can help users see whether commands are taking effect, though separate confirmation is not available for every setup.

Integrations and deployment

Lua drivers connect supported meters, inverters and batteries; compatibility varies by model, firmware and verified function. EV chargers supporting OCPP 1.6J or 2.0.1 can connect to FTW’s built-in server without a Lua driver, subject to the charger’s supported functions. API and Home Assistant integrations support observation or automation rather than replacing the need to check device compatibility.

FTW runs on a user-managed host, with Linux and Docker installation paths and Raspberry Pi deployment described. That flexibility suits people comfortable maintaining a home server; it is a less natural fit for those who want a hosted service or official support.

Pricing

FTW Community costs nothing for private-household use. It is open source under AGPLv3 with an Energyplan exception. The proprietary Energyplan worker is permitted with FTW for a private household; other use or distribution requires a separate written Sourceful license. This restriction matters to anyone considering commercial, organizational or redistributed use.

Community support is best-effort from users and maintainers, with no official support, warranty, response times or service-level commitments. The free price therefore suits a self-reliant household willing to handle setup and troubleshooting, not a user who needs guaranteed assistance.

Platforms

FTW supports API, Linux, self-hosted and web use. Its current 0.x beta has Linux and Docker installation paths and can run on a Raspberry Pi or Linux host. This is a self-hosted deployment, not a turnkey mobile-app offering.

Who it's for

FTW is aimed at private households with supported solar, battery or charging equipment, a working site meter and the technical ability to run software on their own host. It is especially relevant when coordinating several energy inputs and devices matters more than having a polished, supported service.

It is a poor fit for users who need mature software, guided migration, guaranteed support or unrestricted commercial licensing. The current release is an early 0.x beta, guided transfer of older settings and history is not ready, and versions 2.x and 3.x will receive no further updates.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Energyplan considers tariffs, forecasts, solar, charging needs and battery efficiency together, giving household planning broader context than a single-device controller.
• Pros: FTW Core checks equipment and site limits and stops dispatch when required meter data is stale, adding guardrails to active control.
• Pros: OCPP charger connectivity can avoid a Lua driver for compatible chargers, while Linux, Docker and Raspberry Pi deployment provide self-hosting choices.
• Cons: The early beta lacks guided migration of old settings and history, so existing users should expect a less seamless transition.
• Cons: Device support varies by model, firmware and verified functions, and active control depends on a working site meter and confirmed fuse rating.
• Cons: Community support has no formal commitments, and Energyplan's private-household license boundary excludes other use without a separate written license.

Alternatives

Enertiv is worth considering when a paid platform with Android and iOS support is a better fit; its free portfolio diagnostic uses ESPM data with read-only access and no commitment.

BEMServer is another free, open-source option for Linux and self-hosted use, though its listed plan places installation, configuration, maintenance and selected modules outside the free software offer.

Honeywell Forge is an alternative for readers seeking a paid product family with broader desktop and mobile platform support; pricing depends on the product, and Advanced Process Control uses term-based licensing and feature choices.

Siemens Building X offers application or API subscriptions billed yearly, with pricing by quote; choose it when a subscription-based platform better matches the deployment.

Spacewell, KERO, Verdigris and CIM PEAK are other options to compare.

For a broader category comparison, see Energy Management Software.

Verdict

FTW is a compelling free option for technically capable private households that want to coordinate supported solar, batteries and EV charging on their own hardware. Its multi-input planning and cautious local control are the central reasons to choose it. Look elsewhere if you need mature releases, supported migration, formal assistance or Energyplan use beyond a private household.