Build a Control Integration

This article gives an overview of how to automate your demand response participation with a Voltus control integration.

Getting Started

• Introduction to Demand Response describes the basics of demand response and key API concepts. It’s written for developers and Product Managers.
• Making Your First API Request - a five minute starter exercise for developers.

Tutorials

• See Create an Integration With Webhooks and Create a Dispatch Polling Integration to walk you through creating a software integration. Where possible, we recommend using webhooks.
• If you prefer OpenADR, we provide an overview of OpenADR at Voltus as well as guidance on Getting a TLS Certificate and Connecting to our VTN. Note that at this time we are unable to provide any testing environments for OpenADR until you have a contractual relationship with Voltus.
• We require a series of tests to verify system readiness:
  • Three Dispatch Simulations in your private sandbox
  • An Integration Test in production, no curtailment expected
  • A Dispatch Verification: a live curtailment test in production.

Development

You’ll move through these stages with support from our team:

1. Choose your intended method of integration: webhooks, polling, or OpenADR. You can change this later.

For webhooks and polling:

2. Obtain a sandbox key by contacting your Sales Director or api-support@voltus.co. Specify your intended integration method. We will also issue a production key if you are eligible at this time.
3. Use your private sandbox to run dispatch simulations while you build your integration.
4. After passing all simulations, request a production key if you don’t already have one.

For OpenADR:

2. Contact your Sales Director or api-support@voltus.co to determine your OpenADR configuration
3. Send a Certificate Signing Request
4. With the signed certificate, connect to your Voltus VTN

For all integrations:

5. Connect to the production environment and create a test dispatch.
6. If successful, you are ready for a Dispatch Verification (curtailment expected) with your first real site. Contact your Sales Director and api-support@voltus.co for next steps.