ABB, through its venture capital unit ABB Technology Ventures, is investing in Canada-based Enbala Power Networks, a developer of software for managing power distribution networks.
The two companies “are joining forces” to develop a new distributed energy resource management system (DERMS) “which will enable utilities, energy service companies and grid operators to efficiently manage the entire lifecycle of distributed energy resources” such as solar and wind, while “ensuring safe, secure and efficient operation of the electric distribution network" ABB said in a statement.
Contacted by Gas to Power Journal, the company was not immediately available to confirm the value of the investment, although media reports indicated it is worth some $12 million.
The new software is also expected to enable more active participation from energy consumers, it said.
“Today’s grid operators require digital solutions to deal with challenges posed by the increasing amount of intermittent renewable and distributed energy sources being integrated into the grid” ABB stressed, adding that “this is driven by the need to keep the grid balanced and optimized in real-time as we accommodate more wind mills and photovoltaic panels on roof tops.”
“This investment will lead to a further enhancement of our digital ABB Ability offering, helping customers to maximize opportunities by leveraging distributed energy resources” commented ABB's chief technology officer, Bazmi Husain.
The two companies will also work on new capabilities to seamlessly integrate distributed energy resources into ABB’s microgrid solutions.