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AutoGrid: Optimizing Energy Storage by Integrating Distributed Renewable Energy with IoT Devices

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Kyle Garton,Principal Product Manager

Kyle Garton

Principal Product Manager

IEA estimates that by 2020, developing countries will need to double their electrical power output to meet the rising demand. The rising role of renewable generation points towards the need of a scalable and effective software platform that injects renewable sources into power systems. This quest for economical solutions ends at California-based AutoGrid, which leverages its advanced software platform to streamline customers’ utilities with power flexibility management applications, including storage. While it boosts profitability and brings resilience through value stacking of energy systems, the company enables energy providers to extract flexible capacity from distributed energy resources like batteries, to balance energy supply and demand in real time, increase the productivity and value of energy assets, and deliver new energy services to customers.

Ensconced in 2011, AutoGrid’s suite of energy internet applications is programmed to congregate a fleet of batteries into one unit and generate greater value by deciding each battery’s usage. Kyle Garton, Director of Product Management, AutoGrid adds, “We can take different market factors(say, feed in tariffs) and create an intelligent way of wrapping all assets together
that enables you to derive more value out of them without managing batteries separately”. This innovative spirit has been laurelled with prestigious awards including Bloomberg New Energy Pioneer 2016, World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer 2015, Global CleanTech 100 and many more.

AutoGrid’s Virtual Power Plant (VPP)creates flexible capacity and captures new revenue streams by optimizing and controlling distributed power generation to provide ancillary services in real time


One User Code, Multiple Batteries Operation
Seamless integration of renewable energy with storage IoT devices connected in homes creates a room for demand response program and AutoGrid effectuates this approach into action by providing utility storage solutions for grid level, residential and C&I customers. This approach balances the storage and converts consumers into prosumers by making utility applications more agile & responsive. Meanwhile, AutoGrid’s Virtual Power Plant(VPP)creates flexible capacity and captures new revenue streams by optimizing and controlling distributed power generation to provide ancillary services in real time.

Noting that solar storage is cost competitive with traditional diesel genset, AutoGrid develops reliable grid solutions to provide stability against blackouts. Having significant
proficiency in storage co-optimization, it helps large industrial customers to manage the order and application of different batteries along with deploying demand charge management that maximizes utility and reduces electricity bills. Kyle states, “We’re designed to do things from one base and one platform. Our ability to scale with customers as they evolve at technological level is a really big differentiator for us”.

Smarter Storage, Profitable Prospects
Placing innovation at apex, AutoGrid devises economically viable solutions to help derive better ROI, manage multiple buildings’ energy storage and convert battery value into spending reserves. “It’s not just about going green. If you’re a business or a utility, you need energy storage to be feasible,” asserts Kyle. Complying with SOC 2, national and international standards, it processes and securely stores entire client data on cloud and renders limited access. Besides leveraging technology for improving software platform, AutoGrid constantly adds connections to hardware components to create quick integration with the software and develop a vast network of connectors while being cost refined.

With global footprints (North America, Asia and Europe), AutoGrid is developing storage and solar spectrum along with constantly adding hardware vendors and localizing its software to align with the market. Graphing cent-percent revenues annually, the company envisages solidifying its software, increasing product portfolio and ensuring the coverage of all important India-specific use cases.