Generac Holdings Inc., Waukesha, WI, acquired Enbala Power Networks Inc., a distributed energy resources technology company to expand its focus on smart grid 2.0 technologies and capitalize on new opportunities as a grid services provider.
According to the release, Denver-based Enbala is a provider of distributed energy optimization and control software designed to ensure the operational stability of the world’s power grids. Its Enbala Concerto platform is being used by utilities and energy retailers around the world to leverage the power of distributed energy resources (DERs) to respond to the real-time energy balancing needs of power systems and energy markets.
“We’re on the leading edge of a remarkable transformation of the electrical grid, moving from a dated and centralized power distribution model to one that will be digitized, decentralized and more resilient,” said Aaron Jagdfeld, Generac’s CEO, in the press release. “Enbala is a proven virtual power plant and distributed energy resource management platform, and we believe their business model can be incredibly synergistic with our business. We’re proud to be at the forefront of the smart grid 2.0 with these new capabilities.”
With thousands of megawatts of residential and industrial standby power generation installed in the United States, Generac’s products can be leveraged in virtual power plant (VPP) and distributed energy resource management system (DERMS) markets. The Enbala Concerto software platform enables the connection of DERs to register and participate in distributed energy aggregation and control programs. This means otherwise dormant backup power generation assets can come online as part of a distributed energy solution and generate revenue for the asset owner.
Generac said in the release that as utility companies adopt cleaner forms of energy while simultaneously dealing with power disruptions, the opportunities to optimize the grid with DERs are becoming more creative. Residential and C&I rooftop solar, behind-the-meter battery storage systems, electric vehicles and flexible electricity load management are key asset components of a healthy future for distributed energy resources management.
“Distributed generation is a critical next step for utility companies faced with meeting peak demand while also dealing with capacity constraints and regulatory restrictions,” said Jagdfeld. “Enbala and Generac will harness the power of everything from solar-plus-storage systems to our own generators to help limit the need for new power plants and maintain the convenience and flexibility of diversified power production.”