Rome, Italy-based Enel, a multinational producer and distributor of electricity and gas, announced on January 11 that the company had acquired a 100 percent stake in Demand Energy Networks a Liberty Lake, Washington-based provider of energy storage software and systems. The acquisition was made through Enel subsidiary Enel Green Power North American (ECPNA).
“Through this transaction we will be able to greatly strengthen our position in the growing battery storage market with a complementary partner and innovator,” said Enel’s Head of Global Renewable Energies Francesco Venturini. “By combining our global presence and expertise in systems integration with Demand Energy’s software and established product offering, we will expand the development of renewables and storage both in the United States and globally – delivering a clean, reliable, high-tech, and cost-effective energy solution.”
Enel will work with Demand Energy, which already has established itself in the New York City storage market, to deliver value to commercial and industrial customers; and to expand deployment of the company’s Distributed Energy Network Optimization System – an intelligent software controls platform that Demand Energy claims “allows real-time optimization of energy management and upgrades the way in which electricity is generated, stored, and consumed.”
The cloud-based system platform provides the analytics and control needed to aggregate energy management across multiple facilities, creating an online virtual power plant that operates efficiently and multiplies savings, the company said.
Demand Energy’s core experience is in the behind-the-meter storage market. The company has carried out 24 projects since it was founded in 2008, totaling 3 MW/9 MWh of installed capacity in both the United States and Latin America. It now boasts a pipeline in excess of 30 MW/100 MWh.
“Our acquisition by Enel underscores the strategic intersection of renewable energy production, energy storage, and intelligent software controls platform,” commented Demand Energy CEO Gregg Patterson. “We’re very pleased to become part of Enel, which will lead to expanded product and service offerings and global market opportunities.”
Following the transaction, Enel will provide Demand Energy with access to a technologically and geographically diversified portfolio of renewable energy projects, which comprises 24 countries and includes more than 1,000 operational plants.
The acquisition directly supports Enel’s global business strategy, the company said, by increasing operational efficiency and enhancing digitization to drive growth, performance, and flexibility; while creating valuable product offerings for its existing and new customer base.
Enel Green Power is the renewable energy division of Enel Group, with a presence in Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa.