Energy · head to head
Novity vs SMA Energy
Novity
Energy
Hybrid physics and machine learning prognostics that estimate remaining useful life for process equipment
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only SMA Energy has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Novity novity is a small venture-backed company with a strategic investor rather than a profitable business, so continuity risk is real and the Tokyo Gas investment signals a likely eventual acquisition that would reset the roadmap.; SMA Energy requires SMA Premium subscription for advanced automation features
- They diverge on capability: Novity covers TruPrognostics engine, SMA Energy covers Real-time monitoring.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Novity and SMA Energy actually diverge.
| Attribute | Novity | SMA Energy |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Pricing model | quote | free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, Cloud | Web, Mobile |
| Founded | Unknown | 1981 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Energy).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Novity
- TruPrognostics engine
- Cold-start modelling
- Fault mode diagnosis
- Remaining useful life
- Existing sensor reuse
- Recommended actions
- Historian connectors
- Asset class libraries
Only in SMA Energy
- Real-time monitoring
- Battery management
- Energy analytics
- Mobile portal
- System optimization
- SSL encryption
- Cloud deployment
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Novity
- A gas processing plant that needs a defensible time-to-failure number before deferring a turnaroundnot SMA Energy
- An LNG terminal with critical compressors and no run-to-failure history to train a conventional modelnot SMA Energy
- A wastewater operator whose existing vibration alarms are ignored because they carry no severity or horizonnot SMA Energy
- A generator operator supplying data centre load where an unplanned trip carries contractual penaltiesnot SMA Energy
SMA Energy
- System monitoringnot Novity
- Battery optimizationnot Novity
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Novity
- Novity is a small venture-backed company with a strategic investor rather than a profitable business, so continuity risk is real and the Tokyo Gas investment signals a likely eventual acquisition that would reset the roadmap.
- Physics-based models must be configured per equipment class, so each new asset type is an engineering engagement rather than a configuration screen, and rollout speed is limited by Novitys own capacity.
- Prognostics depend on the quality and sampling rate of your historian data; plants recording ten-minute averages will not get useful remaining-useful-life estimates without new instrumentation.
- Nothing about pricing is published and there is no self-service entry point, so evaluation always starts with a sales-led pilot on a handful of assets.
- The deployment footprint is concentrated in oil and gas, LNG and water, so reference customers and pre-built asset models outside those industries are limited.
SMA Energy
- Requires SMA Premium subscription for advanced automation features
- SMA Sunny Portal monitoring has data delays and does not guarantee real-time updates
- Limited scalability for larger residential or commercial installations beyond 18.9 kWh
- Requires all devices to have latest software versions and compatible communication protocols
Pricing, plan by plan
Novity
On request- TruPrognostics$undefined/year
- Quoted per asset class and monitored equipment count
- Model configuration and commissioning quoted as a project
- Typically an annual subscription tied to a pilot then a rollout
SMA Energy
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the SMA Energy review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Novity if
- You need truprognostics engine.
- You work on Web, Cloud.
- You also want cold-start modelling.
Choose SMA Energy if
- You need real-time monitoring.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Mobile.
- You also want battery management.
Questions people ask
- Is Novity or SMA Energy better?
- Neither clearly leads. Novity starts at On request and SMA Energy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Novity or SMA Energy?
- SMA Energy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Novity and Free for SMA Energy.
- Does Novity or SMA Energy run on more platforms?
- Novity runs on Web, Cloud. SMA Energy runs on Web, Mobile.
- Can I use SMA Energy for free?
- Yes. SMA Energy has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Novity starts at On request.
- What is Novity best used for?
- Novity is most often used for a gas processing plant that needs a defensible time-to-failure number before deferring a turnaround, an lng terminal with critical compressors and no run-to-failure history to train a conventional model, a wastewater operator whose existing vibration alarms are ignored because they carry no severity or horizon, a generator operator supplying data centre load where an unplanned trip carries contractual penalties. Of those, a gas processing plant that needs a defensible time-to-failure number before deferring a turnaround and an lng terminal with critical compressors and no run-to-failure history to train a conventional model are not what SMA Energy is typically brought in for.
- What can Novity do that SMA Energy cannot?
- Novity covers TruPrognostics engine, Cold-start modelling, Fault mode diagnosis, Remaining useful life. SMA Energy covers Real-time monitoring, Battery management, Energy analytics, Mobile portal.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Novity: What does Novity actually output?
A named failure mode and an estimated remaining useful life with a confidence band, not just an anomaly alert.
SMA Energy: Is SMA Energy Maximizer free?
No. SMA Energy Maximizer requires an SMA Premium subscription. However, there is a 90-day free trial period. After the trial, the service requires a paid subscription to access automated optimization features. The SMA Premium digital service is built into SMA devices powered by ennexOS.
SourceNovity: Do we need failure history to train it?
No. The physics component is what lets it produce useful prognostics on equipment with little or no run-to-failure data.
SMA Energy: What are the system requirements for SMA Energy?
SMA Energy requires compatible SMA inverters, SMA Energy Meter for consumption tracking, and communication protocols like Modbus or Speedwire for connectivity. All devices must have the latest software version, and a network connection is required for remote monitoring through SMA Sunny Portal.
SourceNovity: Do we need new sensors?
Often not. It reads from your existing historian, but low sampling rates or missing measurements can require additional instrumentation.
SMA Energy: Does SMA Energy work offline?
SMA Energy systems can continue generating electricity offline, but remote monitoring and cloud-based optimization through SMA Sunny Portal require internet connectivity. If communication fails between devices, inverters reduce output power to 0 percent as a safety fallback.
SourceNovity: Who backs the company?
It was spun out of Xerox PARC and took a strategic investment from Acario Innovation, the venture arm of Tokyo Gas, in 2026.
SMA Energy: What is the maximum system size for residential installations?
SMA systems typically support a maximum residential configuration of 18.9 kWh battery storage, which is suitable for most single-family homes but may be insufficient for larger properties or commercial applications.
SourceRelated pages
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