Global energy technology giant Siemens plans to acquire Massachusetts-based Russelectric, a move likely to strengthen Siemens position in state’s increasingly fertile microgrid market.
Russelectric manufactures power control systems and made a splash in the microgrid arena last year with the opening of a sophisticated microgrid demonstration at its Hingham, Massachusetts headquarters.
The Russelectric microgrid not only powers the facility, but also serves as a learning ground for potential customers who want to see a microgrid in action. Such projects are viewed as valuable within an industry that is still young and needs to prove itself to customers
The acquisition of Russelectric by Siemens means that two of the major players in microgrids — Siemens and Schneider Electric — will have corporate demonstration projects in Massachusetts. Schneider Electric, a prime competitor to Siemens, operates a demonstration microgrid at its Andover, Massachusetts headquarters.
Like most of the Northeast, Massachusetts is viewed as a prime market and a launching ground for the North American industry because of severe hurricanes and winter storms that cause power outages. (The other launching ground for microgrids is California, where the market has been driven by environmental goals and grid vulnerability to earthquakes and wildfires.)
State policy swings in favor of microgrids in Massachusetts with state grant programs through the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and strong energy storage, renewable energy and climate goals. The city of Boston also has laid out microgrid plans, with a much-watched project at the Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park Project.
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