EDF Renewables announces the acquisition of PowerFlex Systems (PowerFlex), a pioneering company in the field of charging technologies, based in Los Altos, California. This acquisition will create a unique decentralized energy ecosystem combining intelligent charging solutions for electric vehicles or energy charging for buildings, as well as means of solar energy production and storage. The investment is part of EDF Renewables' growth strategy in the United States in the decentralized energy market, as illustrated by the acquisition of groSolar in 2016 and the partnership concluded with EnterSolar. last year.
PowerFlex's patented technology comes from the work of Steven Low's NetLab research laboratory at the California Institute of Technology (CalTech). The optimization algorithms and methods were developed thanks to contributions from different institutions such as the National Science Foundation, the Rothenberg Innovation Initiative,
the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the CalSEED program.
PowerFlex has deployed some of the world's largest electric vehicle charging devices in California using its Adaptive Charging Network (ACN) technology. This system makes it possible to optimize the supply of electricity to electric vehicles and to limit, or even eliminate, costly investments in adapting electrical networks. PowerFlex's adaptive charging network thus manages charging based on user demand, building energy load, or on-site electricity production.
“ By integrating PowerFlex technology into our offering of solar power generation, storage and intelligent energy management solutions, we are now able to provide commercial and industrial buildings with a unique energy ecosystem; this makes it possible to provide reliable, competitive and carbon-free electricity, where and when our customers need it », Specifies Raphaël Declercq, Executive Vice-President, Decentralized Solutions and Strategy at EDF Renewables in the USA.
Yannick Duport, Director of Electric Mobility at EDF, is delighted with this new investment in the field of charging for electric vehicles: “ This acquisition is consistent with the ambitions of the EDF Group's Electric Mobility Plan launched last October and makes full sense in a region of the world that is innovative and very active in the field of electric mobility. ".
“ To enable the State of California to reach its 2030 goal of 60 % of renewable energy and five million electric vehicles, we must deploy thousands of low-cost charging stations at workplaces , thus promoting recharging during the day to cope with the drop in solar production [in the evening],” says George Lee, Managing Director of PowerFlex. “ Organizing seamless coordination between variable solar energy production and flexible charging linked to electric vehicle charging will be decisive for the long-term reliability of our network. PowerFlex offers the ideal solution in this regard ".
ABOUT EDF RENEWABLES (formerly EDF Energies Nouvelles)
EDF Renewables is an international leader in renewable electricity with an installed capacity of nearly 13 GW gross worldwide. Its development is mainly focused on wind power and photovoltaic solar power. Mainly present in Europe and North America, EDF Renewables continues its development by taking a position in promising emerging markets such as: Brazil, China, India, South Africa and the Middle East. The Company, which is strongly positioned in the offshore wind sector, is also present in other renewable energy sectors such as energy storage. EDF Renewables ensures the development and construction of renewable energy projects as well as their operation and maintenance, for its own account and on behalf of third parties. EDF Renouvelables is the subsidiary of the EDF group dedicated to the development of solar and wind energy.
For more information : www.edf-renouvelables.com
follow us on Linkedin and on Twitter @EDF_RE in French and @EDF_Renewables in English.
PRESS CONTACTS EDF Renewables
Daniel DaCosta
such. : +33 (0)1 40 90 48 22
e-mail : daniel.dacosta@edf-en.com
Clarisse Placidoux
such. : +33 (0)1 40 90 49 46
e-mail : clarisse.placidoux@edf-en.com