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Interconnecting Renewables to the Grid: Opportunities, Challenges and the Future

As energy demand grows, so does the demand to interconnect renewable energy resources to the grid. According to Queued Up: 2024 Edition, an annual study on the characteristics of power plants seeking interconnection in the US published by Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (LBNL), there is currently more than 1,480 GW of zero-carbon generating capacity seeking transmission access. Although generating capacity and demand grow, grid interconnection remains one of the top challenges for renewable energy.

However, with several major rulings and proposals, there have been important developments in the transmission and interconnection space—from increased interconnection request requirements and costs, to getting the most out of the existing grid with Alternative Transmission Technologies (ATTs). The below explores the current setting and how to navigate the challenges of interconnecting renewable resources to the transmission grid.

FERC Order No. 2023

In response to the interconnection backlog, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued Order 2023 which aims to streamline the interconnection process. This reform required a cluster study approach across all the Independent System Operators (ISO) and Transmission Owners (TO), which attempts to study a group of projects within the same electrical region or zone at once. To standardize the process, the order also increased readiness requirements through a first ready, first served approach.

This regulation poses both challenges and opportunities for organized and non-organized energy markets. The cluster study approach minimizes study time and reduces cost, since traditionally the utilities would study projects serially. However, it also introduces delay in the study process and dependency on other projects studied in the cluster.

In large clusters with more than 20-30 projects it is very difficult to isolate multiple “what if” scenarios and understand the cost implications if other projects decide to drop out of the queue or don’t advance forward. The uncertainty in terms of cost and schedule is far more uncertain in a cluster process.

The organized markets (i.e. the ISOs) have already implemented much of what Order 2023 requires. This includes the cluster studies and requirements like withdrawal penalties, site control, and higher interconnection deposits. Since these requirements have already been implemented by multiple ISOs such as CAISO, SPP, PJM, and MISO, the impacts here are minimal.

Where FERC Order 2023 has greater implications is the non-organized markets. This is also where most of the queue was serial and the cost of entry was fairly inexpensive. Although the changes in these markets will eventually be helpful, there have been some challenges and delays to active projects as the utilities try to transition to the FERC Order 2023 guidelines.

The Order still leaves a gap on how to tie the interconnection process to long-term planning needs, thus exposing the generators to cost and schedule risks and uncertainties. It also leads to inefficiencies in how the system is planned, which is not only inefficient but also more expensive — not only for the developers but also for the rate paying customers.

FERC Order 1920

In 2024, FERC issued Order 1920 which aims to proactively plan for the future transmission system, including the interconnection of new generating resources. These reforms require proactive multi-driver and multi-benefit long term planning that considers any system upgrades identified through the interconnection process. This order also takes into account the integration of Alternative Transmission Technologies and Grid-Enhancing Technologies (GETs) to offer potential solutions for a more predictable and efficient energy grid. The criteria laid out in order 1920 aims to extend and apply to not only long-term planning but also the joint targeted interconnection queue, long range transmission planning and intra-regional planning efforts led by various ISOs.

The aging grid and new technologies

The U.S. power grid was designed for a different era and now faces the challenge of integrating renewable energy sources. FERC Orders 2023 and 1920 require transmission providers to evaluate Alternative Transmission Technologies such as dynamic line ratings, advanced power flow devices, and advanced conductors. These technologies, while not mandated, offer a bridge to faster and cheaper renewable energy integration.

Grid-enhancing technologies (GETs)

GETs can typically be deployed in months, if not weeks, and are considerably cheaper than their long-term counterparts. To-date, these GETs have been used in operational scenarios, specifically topology optimization, so it’s in the independent power producers (IPPs) interest to study the benefits of these technologies on their project. Most of the IPPs have performed studies to evaluate cost benefit and then proposed to TOs to implement.

So far, IPPs have evaluated and studied dynamic line rating and topology optimization. These have been deployed by many utilities in their current operating scenarios, while managing outages. The next step is to have enough studies to show the benefits and establish a proactive process for proper evaluation and implementation on the TO side. After several years of effort working with MISO, there is a process to get them evaluated in that grid operator. Some of our recent efforts have also come to fruition in ERCOT, but in SPP we still haven’t been able to make a breakthrough.

Just a few years ago, there was little-to-no discussion happening on how to adopt these grid enhancing technologies. Today, there are several FERC Orders such as 881, 2023 and 1920 that demonstrate the need for adopting GETs not only in the operational environment but also as we plan the grid in transmission planning. FERC Order 1920 requires that GETs be evaluated as the ISOs andTOs plan the system.

Challenges and opportunities for IPPs in GETs adoption

The biggest challenge for IPPs is the lack of clarity and transparency in the evaluation of proposing GET solutions. This is true in both the interconnection process as well as during the operational process. There is no one-stop-shop to where the criteria, contacts and processes are listed, so the evaluation is not transparent for the interconnection customer.

However, the biggest opportunity is that these solutions are win-wins for interconnection customers (IC), ISO’s and TOs. In a study done by ENGIE and New Grid (a TO software provider), by reconfiguring just three constraints resulted in approximately $151M USD market congestion costs saving annually. This was done with minimal investment and was deployed within one month. These congestion costs savings not only help the ICs, but the savings transfer to the rate payers.

Solving this congestion problem will eventually help end customers, who are the main stakeholders for any ISO/TO. We are in a time where ISO/TO do not have to do this on their own, but they can count on ICs as their partners — where we can collaboratively provide detailed technical studies, feedback, and reviews to develop this process. The modern grid needs modern solutions, and GETs are a part of that solution.

Need for future reforms

FERC Order 1920 and 2023 are good initial steps, but there is still more work to be done. Several additional reforms are needed to speed up the interconnection backlog include:

1. Requiring study automation, including quality check reviews to ensure the information passed on to stakeholders is reliable. This should include setting up an independent interconnection study monitor.

2. Fast track projects that do not need or already have network upgrades.

3. Require that all the cost-effective solutions (such as GETs) are studied and evaluated when a transmission constraint is identified during the interconnection process.

4. Ensure transparency of the reporting of transmission construction phases to stakeholders.

The above and more reforms have been proposed by industry groups to FERC, and hopefully we see more improvements coming down the pipeline.

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Meeting Future Power Needs

It is estimated that the world will need more than 93 million miles of transmission lines, the distance between the Earth and the Sun, to face future power needs (IEA, 2023). Over the past 120 years, 50 million miles of transmission lines have been developed, but experts say we will need an additional 40 to 50 million miles in the next 30 years to keep up with growing demand.

The impact of increased electrical consumption and renewable energy
This rising development is due to increased electrical consumption (electric vehicles, data center development, AI acceleration, etc.) and the evolution of renewable energy sources. Renewable energy sources now allow us to focus on developing generation in the places where it is most efficient to do so, instead of having to necessarily be close to our direct customers. In the past, generators were incentivized to develop thermal plants as close as possible from the consumption area to enable better cost efficiency. But today, with renewable energy sources, the focus is generation efficiency. This opens up more options, such as choosing a wind corridor or vast enough land in the desert to deploy a solar plant.

Distance is a major factor to the current delay in keeping up with power demand, as transmission line buildout cannot keep up. This is a huge challenge that we, as an industry, need to prioritize — helping to facilitate faster infrastructure and power generation development. It is critical that we work together to accelerate our decisions and investments to help face these challenges.

Balancing generation and demand
Even if we are successful at accelerating the extension of transmission lines, the operation of our power grid is still a huge roadblock. Increase in power usage, coupled with intermittent renewable power generation, challenges the balance between generation and demand.

The need for energy storage solutions
There’s no doubt that providing power to cover the demand peak in our future is an issue that keeps us up at night. We all know power is very difficult to store, but something must change. We must look at assets that enable flexibility on the grid, such as battery storage or pumped storage, but let’s not forget the importance of green or low-carbon gas. The energy transition needs the alliance of the electron and the molecule. It is important for us to work together, and center the business model, to develop assets involving the synergy between gas and electricity. The affordability and feasibility of the transition depends on it.

The role of gas in the energy transition
Recent pragmatic policies have emerged, calling for new thermal plants to be built (such as in Texas or in the United Kingdom). It is believed that we cannot handle the demand peak, and keep energy affordable, without gas-fired plants until well into the transition. With these gas-fired plants, we should remain open to “hydrogen ready” options, as well as the maturement of renewable gases such as biomethane and e-methane.

Reviving the debate on underground gas storage
The important role gas can play in meeting power demand has also revived the debate around underground gas storage. Embedded in the natural gas seasonal economy, storage is often forgotten in future planning. It has the capability of providing fast cycling services, enabling a mid-term storage delivery (storing gas for several days with the aim for it to become power) which is a smart complement to batteries (storing power for several hours).

Proven solutions for reliable grid service
The industry must consider solutions that are proven to deliver reliable service to the grid — supporting peak generation. At ENGIE, we operate fast cycling storage in the United Kingdom and are actively working on a Hydrogen Underground Storage Business Model with the UK government. As we investigate opportunities to assist with transmission and grid congestion, we must take into consideration lead time on the execution of solutions (such as underground storage), as well as the regularity of investment decisions to enable a delivery at the right time.

Shaping the future of energy
At this moment, it’s exciting to work in the energy industry, as we have been given the opportunity to collaboratively shape the energy systems of the future. By utilizing renewables sources for generation efficiency, looking at assets that enable flexibility on the grid, remaining open to hydrogen-ready options, and valuing underground gas storage, we are empowering low-carbon energy solutions to meet the unprecedented demand for power and facilitate faster infrastructure and power generation development.

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Considering Risk in Energy Procurement

The evolving dynamics of the energy sector present both new opportunities and unprecedented risk for our customers. No two days are alike in the energy market, so it is imperative to help customers navigate their risk and make the most from the energy value chain. A one-size-fits-all approach is no longer a viable way to consider sourcing your energy. Customers need more sophisticated offerings; tailored, flexible solutions based on their unique risk tolerance and budget. 

Understanding risk tolerance
Understanding risk tolerance or risk appetite in energy is similar to how risk is considered in other financial investment decisions. For example: do you want to put 90% of your investment into a more volatile stock market? Or are you more comfortable with a diversified approach and consider bonds and other more secure financial vehicles? Energy sourcing should be considered with this same lens by considering the volatility of energy prices and weighing what is appropriate for their business drivers. For example, customers that are typically more risk averse may find that a fixed price solution is best to maintain a degree of budget certainty. On the other hand, customers that are more comfortable riding the ebbs and flows of the energy market may find that an index price solution (with price locks) might better match their higher risk tolerance.

Custom, tailored solutions
Proactively identifying opportunities across the energy value chain and delivering tailored solutions is crucial to customers. This involves understanding key criteria such as budget considerations, target goals, current strategies and aspirations for improvement. Considering the needs of the customer results in meaningful energy solutions that address specific needs. A prime example of a customized solution is a multi-year retail energy supply agreement that addresses price, risk and specific objectives. Such agreements can provide flexibility and stability by locking in prices for a portion of usage while allowing the remaining usage to float at the current market index price. In this agreement, a pilot program implements a process for all transmission and ancillary services billed directly from ENGIE instead of the local utility, with charges based on actual demand. As such, the venues can take advantage of savings that stem from their distinctive peak load characteristics versus higher pooled costs.

Importance of sustainability
Renewable energy is growing at an unprecedented rate, and organizations have set aggressive goals for sustainability including ambitious target dates for net zero carbon emissions. By integrating renewable energy into tailored solutions, we empower customers to meet or exceed their sustainability energy goals. Embracing sustainability in energy procurement is not just beneficial for our environment; it is a strategic move to ensure resilience. Matching energy consumption with renewable energy credits (RECs) can help companies achieve their set targets while meeting their current energy demands. This approach can bring the benefits of renewable energy to businesses of all sizes, regardless of market location and structure. ICA Miami is matching 100% of its consumption with RECs (renewable energy credits) which is a greenhouse gas emissions reduction equivalent of 1,352 metric tons of CO2.

Providing support
It is essential to offer customers responsiveness, timely pricing and helpful tools to manage their energy usage and spending. Leveraging energy expertise can bring valuable insight to the table. For example, the utilization of wholesale markets and structuring risk management products based on customer objectives can ensure further financial security in energy procurement.

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ENGIE reaches more than 1.8 GW of Battery Energy Storage Systems installed capacity in the U.S., of which 1 GW added since January 2024

ENGIE announces it has reached more than 1.8 GW of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) capacity in operation across the United States, confirming its rapid growth in Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to meet the needs of the grid. Since the beginning of 2024, the Group added around 1 GW of new BESS capacity to its operating portfolio in North America. This new milestone strengthens ENGIE’s position as a leader of the energy transition in the United States, where the Group already has significant footprints through its renewable assets and its energy management platform.

With 24 projects now operating across the U.S., of which 6 were commissioned this year, ENGIE is among the largest operators of BESS in the country, and one of the largest independent operators of batteries supporting the ERCOT system in Texas.
The growth in ENGIE’s BESS fleet was accelerated by the pivotal acquisition of industry leader Broad Reach Power (BRP) in August 2023. The successful integration of BRP has not only added to ENGIE’s existing portfolio of development projects, but critically included industry leading solutions, expertise and experience. ENGIE now brings increased flexibility to the grid, allowing a better integration of renewable energies and thus contributes to speed up the energy transition.
“We are extremely proud of the delivery of so many battery projects over the past year, enabling ENGIE to play a leading role in adding storage and other ancillary services to the grid in a material way” said David Carroll, Chief Renewables Officer and Senior VP, ENGIE North America. “Storage and other services are critical additions to support grid reliability. I’m honored that on a number of occasions this summer, ENGIE has been one of the largest contributors of storage dispatch into the ERCOT system for example – helping to balance the grid at some of the most critical moments.”

ENGIE operates both stand-alone BESS projects ranging from 10 MW to 200 MW as well as co-located facilities alongside large solar projects such as the 320 MW Five Wells solar in Bell County, TX.
The ENGIE portfolio of BESS provides dispatchable energy, which in total is now capable of providing around 1.8 GWh across the combination of ERCOT and CAISO – ready to dispatch at a moment’s notice. It also provides critical ancillary services to help maintain grid reliability and stability.

In addition to the growing storage portfolio, ENGIE has some 8 GW of solar and wind projects in operation or construction across North America. The combination of renewables and the increasing growth in storage capacity supports ENGIE’s leading role in the energy transition for North America.

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About ENGIE North America

Based in Houston, Texas, ENGIE North America Inc. is a regional hub of ENGIE, a global leader in low-carbon energy and services. ENGIE (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges. Together with our 96,000 employees around the globe, our customers, partners and stakeholders, we are committed to accelerate the transition toward a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally friendly solutions. Inspired by our purpose (“raison d’être”), we reconcile economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, building on our key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to our customers. In North America, ENGIE helps our clients achieve their energy efficiency, reliability, and ultimately, their sustainability goals, as we work together to shape a sustainable future. We accomplish this through: energy efficiency projects, providing energy supply (including renewables and natural gas), and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy assets (wind, solar, storage and more). For more information on ENGIE North America, please visit our LinkedIn page or Twitter feed, https://www.engie-na.com/ and https://www.engie.com.

Contacts:
ENGIE North America
Michael Clingan, External Relations
Michael.clingan@external.engie.com
832-745-6057

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ENGIE among the top ranking world companies!

ENGIE in the top 50! The Group lies in 46th place in the World’s Best Companies 2024 ranking published by Time magazine and Statista. What’s more, in France the Group is in the top 5.

Published by the American weekly magazine Time in partnership with Statista, a leading international provider of market and consumer data and rankings, the World’s Best Companies 2024 ranking evaluates the world’s 1,000 top performing companies according to three key criteria: employee satisfaction, revenue growth and sustainability performance (ESG criteria).

ENGIE stands out this year, ranking 46th worldwide, compared with 57th place last year. This improvement is largely due to the growth rate of the company, reflecting its ability to innovate and to adapt in a constantly changing sector.

In France, ENGIE has climbed to 5th place, in particular thanks to its Net Promoter Score (NPS), an indicator that measures overall positive customer and employee perception of the company.

This good score illustrates the Group’s commitment to providing a caring and inclusive working environment as well as its social model which reconciles economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet.

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ENGIE enters a partnership with Ares Management for a 2.7 GW portfolio of Renewables and Storage Assets in the U.S.

HOUSTON, Sept. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ENGIE North America (ENGIE) announced that it recently closed a partnership with Ares Management Infrastructure Opportunities funds (Ares). This transaction represents the largest operating portfolio sell down for ENGIE in the U.S. and is one of the largest sales completed in the renewables sector based on total capacity. ENGIE will retain a controlling share in the portfolio and will continue to operate and manage the assets.

The overall 2.7 GW portfolio consists of 15 projects in operation across ERCOT, MISO, PJM and SPP, of which 53% is solar, 25% wind and 22% co-located battery storage capacity.

“We are delighted that ENGIE and Ares will be partners in such a large-scale renewables and co-located storage portfolio to further accelerate the energy transition towards a net zero future,” said Dave Carroll, Chief Renewables Officer, ENGIE North America. “The investment by Ares reflects ENGIE’s proven and recognized track record in developing, building, operating and financing renewable assets, both in North America and globally”.

ENGIE is a leader in the net zero energy transition and currently has more than 8 GW of renewable production in operation or construction across the U.S. and Canada. Globally, ENGIE has an aspiration to add 4 GW per year through 2025, with North America as a material contributor to that growth. This transaction supports ENGIE’s strategy in North America by simultaneously recycling capital and adding a leading infrastructure investor to ENGIE’s select pool of partners.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with ENGIE, a global leader in clean energy, on this highly contracted, attractive portfolio,” said Steve Porto, Partner in Ares’ Infrastructure Opportunities strategy. “This partnership provides diversification across proven technology and geography at scale alongside a strong operator. We look forward to continuing to provide the capital and experience needed to support the energy transition and build-out of climate infrastructure.”

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About ENGIE North America
Based in Houston, Texas, ENGIE North America Inc. is a regional hub of ENGIE, a global leader in low-carbon energy and services. ENGIE (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges. Together with our 96,000 employees around the globe, our customers, partners and stakeholders, we are committed to accelerate the transition toward a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally friendly solutions. Inspired by our purpose (“raison d’être”), we reconcile economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, building on our key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to our customers. In North America, ENGIE helps our clients achieve their energy efficiency, reliability, and ultimately, their sustainability goals, as we work together to shape a sustainable future. We accomplish this through: energy efficiency projects, providing energy supply (including renewables and natural gas), and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy assets (wind, solar, storage and more). For more information on ENGIE North America, please visit our LinkedIn page or Twitter feed, https://www.engie-na.com/ and https://www.engie.com.

About Ares Management
Ares Management Corporation (NYSE:ARES) is a leading global alternative investment manager offering clients complementary primary and secondary investment solutions across the credit, real estate, private equity and infrastructure asset classes. We seek to provide flexible capital to support businesses and create value for our stakeholders and within our communities. By collaborating across our investment groups, we aim to generate consistent and attractive investment returns throughout market cycles. As of June 30, 2024, Ares Management Corporation’s global platform had over $447 billion of assets under management, with more than 2,950 employees operating across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. For more information, please visit www.aresmgmt.com.

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#1 Global Developer Selling Corporate Clean Energy

ENGIE drives PPA innovation after being ranked as the top developer to sell corporate clean energy PPAs by BloombergNEF in their latest Market Outlook report. Since 2019, we have shown resilience and consistency by ranking in the top three for developers, and our success in 2023 is no exception. We signed 19 deals covering over 1GW in five different countries, bringing our total corporate PPA portfolio to 7.3GW. Our clients trust us to support them in their adoption of renewable energy and to help them meet their energy reliability, sustainability, and efficiency goals.

We are proud to lead in both wind and solar technology for MW sold through PPAs, and we look forward to continued success as an innovative provider of sustainable energy solutions. On a local note, we are proud that the majority of the deals in the report were contributed by North America, an important growing market for ENGIE.

Read the full BloombergNEF report.

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ENGIE accelerates in battery storage through the acquisition of Broad Reach Power in the United States

A major step towards ENGIE’s objective of reaching 10 GW of battery capacity within
the Group by 2030 to support the development of renewable energies

ENGIE announces it has signed a binding agreement for the acquisition of 100% of Broad Reach
Power, a company specialized in battery storage and based in Houston, from private equity funds
EnCap and Apollo.


The transaction involves 350MW of operating assets, as well as 880MW under construction
assets with a commissioning expected before the end of 2024, 1.7GW of advanced stage projects
and a significant pipeline of early stage projects. The projects are located in Texas, California and
the central states of the United States. Broad Reach Power skills, tools and teams are the perfect
fit, in and outside the United States, with ENGIE’s integrated model.


The acquisition will support the Group’s goal of having 10 GW of battery capacity globally by
2030. It will also strengthen ENGIE’s position as a leader in the energy transition in the United
States, where the group already has significant positions through its renewable assets (5GW in
operation at the end of 2022), battery storage and its energy management platform. The
development of these projects will respond to the strong need for flexibility generated by the
growth of the share of renewable energies in the energy mix and will increase ENGIE capacity to
provide 24/7 decarbonized electricity to his customers.


Completion of the transaction is expected by Q4 2023, subject to the fulfilment of certain
approvals from anti-trust and energy regulatory authorities.


For Catherine MacGregor, Chief Executive Officer of ENGIE: “This acquisition is fully in line
with ENGIE’s strategy: it will contribute to the development of a low-carbon, affordable and
resilient energy system where flexible assets will play a critical role alongside renewables.”


About ENGIE
ENGIE is a leading global group in low-carbon energy and services. With its 96,000 employees, its
customers, its partners and its stakeholders, the Group is committed every day to accelerating the transition
to a carbon-neutral world, thanks to more energy-efficient and more environmentally-friendly solutions.
Guided by its purpose, ENGIE reconciles economic performance and positive impact on people and the
planet by relying on its key businesses (gas, renewable energies, services) to offer competitive solutions to
its customers.

Turnover in 2022: 93.9 billion euros. Listed in Paris and Brussels (ENGI), the Group is represented in the
main financial (CAC 40, Euronext 100, FTSE Euro 100, MSCI Europe) and extra-financial (DJSI World,
Euronext Vigeo Eiris – Europe 120 / France 20, MSCI EMU ESG screened, MSCI EUROPE ESG Universal
Select, Stoxx Europe 600 ESG-X) indices.

 

ENGIE HQ Press contact:
Tel. France: +33 (0)1 44 22 24 35
Email: engiepress@engie.com
ENGIEpress

 

Investor relations contact:
Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 22 66 29
Email: ir@engie.com

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Climb aboard Energy Observer, a renewable energy lab. Now On-Demand!

Join an exclusive event with Gwenaëlle Avice-Huet, CEO of ENGIE North America on Thursday, January 28, 2021 at 11 AM CT to come aboard the Energy Observer. It is the world’s first hydrogen-powered boat and floating laboratory – and see the innovations in progress to make renewable energy a reality for all. We will have 3 members of the crew with us, including the Founder and Captain, Victorien Erussard, to take all your questions.

 

If you missed the live event, check it out On-Demand!

Register and tune in now.

 

Energy Observer
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C3.ai and ENGIE Launch AI-powered Energy Management Solution for Large Institutions

September 14, 2019 – Redwood City, CA and Houston, TX – C3.ai, a leading enterprise AI software provider for accelerating digital transformation together with global energy leader ENGIE, today announced the launch of Smart Institutions, an AI-powered, holistic Energy-as-a-Service software solution for large institutions.

 

With Smart Institutions, organizations including universities, corporate campuses, cities, and hospitals, can proactively and automatically manage their buildings and energy assets to increase sustainability and decrease energy expenditures to reduce costs. The software has first been deployed at The Ohio State University as part of a plan to reduce energy use across the 485-building campus in Columbus.

In 2017, Ohio State Energy Partners, a consortium of ENGIE North America and Axium Infrastructure, signed a 50-year Comprehensive Energy Management Contract with The Ohio State University. Ohio State Energy Partners looks to drive energy savings and enable end-to-end optimization of the campus energy infrastructure to achieve a 25 percent improvement in energy efficiency over 10 years.

“When we launched our work with The Ohio State University two years ago, we looked forward to advancing new possibilities, from improving ways to heat, cool, and power the campus to collaborating on potentially transformational technologies and services that someday could be shared far beyond Columbus,” said Gwenaëlle Avice-Huet, President and CEO, ENGIE North America and Executive Vice President in charge of ENGIE’s Global Renewable Business Line. “Collaborating with C3.ai on the development of Smart Institutions has enabled us to create our own new technology solution for ENGIE customers, leading the way for other institutions looking to make meaningful progress when it comes to energy and sustainability.”

“C3.ai is accelerating digital transformation for leading organizations across every industry,” said Ed Abbo, President and CTO, C3.ai. “An Energy-as-a-Service software solution powered by the C3 AI platform, Smart Institutions is enabling cutting-edge organizations to set the standard for energy transformation initiatives.”

Through ENGIE Smart Institutions, C3.ai and ENGIE can use AI to help large institutions achieve their sustainability and financial objectives through:

  • Energy optimization: The ability to predict energy consumption, and then optimize across the entire network to reduce costs, including production, distribution, and consumption.
  • Capital planning: The ability to plan long-term capital improvements using dynamic building and network modeling to identify and prioritize a portfolio and program of capital projects.
  • Campus engagement: The ability to use data and behavioral science techniques to engage students and faculty in energy and sustainability to drive energy efficiency, research and innovation, and brand recognition.

About C3.ai
C3.ai is a leading AI software provider for accelerating digital transformation. C3.ai delivers the C3 AI Suite for developing, deploying, and operating large-scale AI, predictive analytics, and IoT applications in addition to an increasingly broad portfolio of turn-key AI applications. The core of the C3.ai offering is a revolutionary, model-driven AI architecture that dramatically enhances data science and application development. Learn more at: www.c3.ai.

About ENGIE North America
ENGIE North America Inc. offers a range of capabilities in the United States and Canada to help customers decarbonize, decentralize, and digitalize their operations. These include comprehensive services to help customers run their facilities more efficiently and optimize energy and other resource use and expense; clean power generation; energy storage; and retail energy supply that includes renewable, demand response, and on-bill financing options. Nearly 100% of the company’s power generation portfolio is low carbon or renewable. Globally, ENGIE is the largest independent power producer and a leading energy efficiency services provider in the world, employing 160,000 people. For more information on ENGIE North America, please visit our Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook pages or www.engie-na.com and www.engie.com.

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