Energy Storage Acquisition Finalized

Wärtsilä has closed the acquisition of Greensmith Energy Management Systems Inc., a provider of grid-scale energy storage software and integrated solutions. The companies announced the acquisition in May following a year-long global cooperation on stand-alone energy storage and hybrid energy solutions.

In 2016, Greensmith’s revenue was US$32 million with over 40 employees. The transaction is valued at US$170 million (enterprise value). Greensmith will operate as a business unit within Wärtsilä Energy Solutions providing both stand-alone energy storage as well as hybridized energy systems, control software and integration expertise.

The acquisition will enable Wärtsilä to rapidly expand its footprint in the energy storage market globally and position itself as a premier energy system integrator. Growth in the energy storage market is expanding from the United States to new regions including the United Kingdom, Asia and Australia. When Wärtsilä engine plants are further optimized with energy storage, new sources of value can be offered to customers and partners. Also, the growing capacity of renewable generation, including solar PV, becomes more sustainable and attractive when integrated with advanced energy storage.

“The acquisition of Greensmith positions Wärtsilä as a global leader in energy system integration and hybrid solutions,” said Javier Cavada, president of Wärtsilä Energy Solutions. “Greensmith brings an unmatched track-record of software and systems integration capabilities, having delivered a third of all 2016 energy storage installations in North America. Wärtsilä’s global footprint with an extensive sales and service network, besides its proven EPC expertise, will create significant synergies and growth.”

As an energy storage solutions and software company, Greensmith has integrated and installed over 60 grid-scale systems including an 80 MWh turn-key system recently deployed in California in under four months to address a capacity emergency. The company provides a full range of capabilities – from full turn-key solutions to design and integration services and a fifth generation software package (GEMS) that today supports multiple energy and power applications. Since 2013, Greensmith has also deployed five grid-scale systems in the PJM frequency regulation market (Pennsylvania, Jersey, Maryland power pool), the world’s largest wholesale market, and serves a growing number of independent power producers, investor-owned utilities, and engineering procurement and construction companies around the world.

“The Greensmith team is excited and honored to become an integral part of Wärtsilä, a global leader in energy solutions,” said John Jung, Greensmith president & CEO. “With the accelerating growth in the energy storage market, as well as, the need for more integrated, intelligent hybrid energy solutions—the timing could not be better.”