Dynamic Energy Networks (DEN) has formed strategic alliances with established energy and industrial sector powerhouses Schneider Electric and The Carlyle Group to invest in microgrids and distributed energy resources in North America.
“We established a platform to own and operate microgrids and distributed energy resources (DER) to serve organizations and institutions — from campuses to hospitals and the military — that demand predictable pricing and efficient, reliable energy,” said Karen Morgan, CEO at DEN. “Working together with Schneider Electric and The Carlyle Group, we aim to transform the market to deliver holistic Energy-as-a-Service with innovative financial and technology solutions.”
The energy sector has increasingly shifted from one-way, static power grids to two-way, dynamic power infrastructure. Energy-as-a-Service — such as discrete energy infrastructure systems that can operate either in connection with or independent of the utility grid for a customer — could grow to a $221 billion global business by 2020, a Navigant Research report estimated.
“The energy industry has experienced a tremendous growth in awareness and usage of microgrids in just the last year alone,” said Andrew Marino, a Carlyle managing director and co-head of Carlyle Global Infrastructure, the firm’s infrastructure investing team. “We’re thrilled to leverage the expertise of Dynamic Energy Networks and to partner with Schneider Electric to deliver microgrid solutions that enable Energy-as-a-Service.”
Equity for future investments by this strategic alliance will come from sources including Carlyle Global Infrastructure Opportunity Fund, a Carlyle fund that makes infrastructure investments.
