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OpenBlue Central Utility Plant Optimization
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What OpenBlue Central Utility Plant Optimization is
OpenBlue Central Utility Plant Optimization (CUPO) helps operators reduce energy use and operating costs in central plants that produce cooling, heating, or electricity, while maintaining reliability. The package includes Plant Optimizer and Plant Simulator. Using real-time data and predictive algorithms, Plant Optimizer chooses equipment staging and setpoints, recalculating a seven-day dispatch forecast every 15 minutes. It can target utility costs, energy and water use, peak electric demand, and greenhouse gas emissions associated with utility imports. Operators can select Auto mode for automatic dispatches or Advisory mode for recommendations without plant control. Plant Simulator lets users compare plant setups and operating scenarios, with estimates for energy and water use, utility costs, and emissions. The software supports a wide range of plant configurations and communicates with automation systems through BACnet, Modbus, LON, or OPC. It can run on-premises, including without an external internet connection, or in a cloud-connected architecture using OpenBlue Bridge. Browser-based interfaces support access to both applications. Pricing is on request; there is no free plan.
Who it suits
It is designed for plant operators and engineers, building owners, and consulting engineers managing campus, company, or city utility plants. It suits sites seeking to optimize plant costs, resource use, or emissions.
What it does well
- Recalculates a seven-day dispatch forecast every 15 minutes.
- Offers automatic and advisory operating modes.
- Plant Simulator compares configurations and operating scenarios.
- Supports BACnet, Modbus, LON, and OPC.
- Can be deployed on-premises or cloud-connected.
What to know first
- No free plan is listed.
- Pricing is available on request.
- Plant automation must provide underlying controls, protections, and alarms.
Limits
The product is paid and has no free plan; pricing is provided on request. Plant Optimizer sits above the plant automation system, so that system must supply standard control logic, equipment protections, and alarms.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| OpenBlue Central Utility Plant Optimization | Pricing not stated; contact Johnson Controls | On request |
As openblue.johnsoncontrols.com lists them, read 8 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit the OpenBlue Central Utility Plant Optimization website
- Contact Johnson Controls for pricing and deployment planning
- Choose on-premises, no-external-internet, or OpenBlue Bridge cloud architecture
- Connect Plant Optimizer with the plant automation system using BACnet, Modbus, LON, or OPC
- Configure browser access over HTTPS
- Use Auto mode for dispatches or Advisory mode for recommendations
Verdict
CUPO combines plant dispatch optimization with scenario modeling and several deployment options. Buyers should account for its paid, quote-based pricing and the need for plant automation to handle core controls and protections.
Questions
How is OpenBlue Central Utility Plant Optimization priced?
It is a paid product, with pricing available on request from Johnson Controls.
Is there a free plan?
No. The listed offering does not include a free plan.
Which platforms are supported?
Listed platforms are API, self-hosted, web, and Windows.
Can it run without an external internet connection?
Yes. Plant Optimizer has an on-premises option with no external internet connection, as well as a cloud-connected architecture through OpenBlue Bridge.
What automation protocols does it support?
Plant Optimizer communicates with plant automation systems through BACnet, Modbus, LON, or OPC.
Who makes the product?
The product is from Johnson Controls, a company founded in 1885 and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
Facts from OpenBlue Central Utility Plant Optimization's own pages
- Automated optimization
- Plant Optimizer uses predictive algorithms to select equipment staging and setpoints, and can integrate with any type of plant automation system. · docs.johnsoncontrols.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Cost and emissions
- The system can optimize utility costs, energy and water use, peak electric demand, and greenhouse gas emissions associated with utility imports. · docs.johnsoncontrols.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- Deployment options include on-premises Plant Optimizer, cloud applications connected through OpenBlue Bridge, and an on-premises no-internet option, with some possible weather-service connections. · docs.johnsoncontrols.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Deployment options
- Plant Optimizer can run on-premises, including an option with no external internet connection, or in a cloud-connected architecture using OpenBlue Bridge. · docs.johnsoncontrols.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Equipment compatibility
- CUPO supports a wide range of central plant configurations, equipment types, and most plant automation systems. · docs.johnsoncontrols.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Forecast horizon
- Plant Optimizer recalculates a seven-day dispatch forecast every 15 minutes. · docs.johnsoncontrols.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 1885 · openblue.johnsoncontrols.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA · openblue.johnsoncontrols.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Included applications
- The CUPO package consists of Plant Optimizer and Plant Simulator. · docs.johnsoncontrols.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Integration protocols
- Plant Optimizer communicates with automation systems using BACnet, Modbus, LON, and OPC protocols. · docs.johnsoncontrols.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Plant Optimizer communicates with plant automation systems using BACnet, Modbus, LON, or OPC protocols. · docs.johnsoncontrols.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The product is presented for plant operators and engineers, as well as building owners and consulting engineers managing company, campus, or city utility plants. · openblue.johnsoncontrols.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Operating modes
- Plant Optimizer provides automatic control and an advisory mode that displays recommendations for operators to consider. · docs.johnsoncontrols.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Optimization
- Plant Optimizer uses real-time data and predictive algorithms to choose equipment staging and setpoints for cost savings, emissions reductions, or both. · docs.johnsoncontrols.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Optimization horizon
- Plant Optimizer recalculates a seven-day dispatch forecast every 15 minutes for cooling, heating, and power generation systems. · docs.johnsoncontrols.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Plant Simulator
- Plant Simulator models plant designs and operating scenarios to estimate hourly energy use, water use, utility cost, and emissions over a year. · docs.johnsoncontrols.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The Plant Optimizer privacy sheet says the application uses Microsoft Azure cloud hosting for listed user account data, with data center locations in the United States, Asia-Pacific, UAE, and Canada. · openblue.johnsoncontrols.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- CUPO is a package of software applications that reduces energy use, carbon footprint, and operating cost in heating, cooling, and distributed electricity generation plants while maintaining reliability. · docs.johnsoncontrols.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Reliability boundary
- Plant Optimizer sits above the plant automation system, whose underlying controls must provide standard control logic, equipment protections, and alarms. · docs.johnsoncontrols.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Security
- CUPO describes HTTPS encrypted communications, security certificates, and an audit log recording who changed what and when, with an explanation required for changes. · docs.johnsoncontrols.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- Plant Optimizer support is available by support request form, email at [email protected], or phone at +1-414-524-2397. · docs.johnsoncontrols.com, 8 Oct 2026
- User interface
- Plant Optimizer and Plant Simulator use browser-based interfaces, and Plant Optimizer can be accessed from any browser over HTTPS. · docs.johnsoncontrols.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Utility pricing integration
- Plant Optimizer can use third-party near real-time pricing data through an API integration, which Johnson Controls helps manage. · docs.johnsoncontrols.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Who it serves
- The product is designed for central utility plants producing cooling, heating, or electricity for campuses and other sites. · docs.johnsoncontrols.com, 7 Oct 2026
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