SCADA International has expanded its software offerings and digital services by acquiring NovoGrid, a provider of grid analytics based in Dublin.

NovoGrid is now the fourth company to join the SCADA International group.

Grid modelling and energy project design capabilities

Acquiring NovoGrid strengthens SCADA International’s grid modelling and energy project design capabilities, streamlining the grid connection process for developers in the industry, the company said in a press release.

Bringing onboard the grid analytics specialists from NovoGrid reflects SCADA International’s ambition to become an end-to-end partner, supporting customers through every step in their green energy transition, it said.

NovoGrid specialises in grid analytics technology, empowering developers, asset owners, and energy traders with insights into grid connection possibilities long before investments are made. The technology allows customers to shorten the time to market by providing actionable connection options.  

NovoGrid co-founders Paul Manning and Professor Andrew Keane. Photo: Stuart McNamara/Corporate Photographers.

Now part of SCADA International, this expertise strengthens the group’s full suite of offerings across the entire lifecycle, beginning at the very early stages of energy project design.

The acquisition demonstrates SCADA International’s dedication to helping accelerate the energy transition. Today, grid integration and lengthy interconnection queues pose one of the biggest threats to electrification and decarbonisation of the energy system because the current power grid infrastructure is not built or dimensioned for the fast expansion of variable power generation and increase in power demand.

Particularly, this shift in the industry has been one of the reasons SCADA International has joined forces with NovoGrid. “Alongside the rapid development of renewables and increased rate of electrification, the demand for the highly specialised expertise that NovoGrid covers is increasing, too," said Thomas Bagger, CEO at SCADA International.

"NovoGrid is a front-runner in helping customers solve grid integration challenges by quickening the interconnection process and providing intelligent tools for better decision-making.

"We are very pleased to have the NovoGrid team on board, as we now can support our customers in solving their challenges along the full lifecycle of their assets – from the cradle to the grave, so to speak.

“When we founded SCADA International in 2006, the industry’s challenges were very different than they are today. Back then, our offerings were mainly related to hardware and consultancy.

"As the market matured and customers started looking into self-performing strategies, we expanded and developed independent monitoring and control software. In that way, we have always evolved alongside our customers’ needs and market changes. So, it has been natural for us to have NovoGrid join our new extended team.”

Actionable insights – 20 times faster

NovoGrid co-founders Paul Manning and Andrew Keane said they were thrilled about the new partnership. The company they jointly founded in 2014 developed proprietary grid analysis technologies based on years of research, leveraging highly sought-after power engineering expertise first-hand to tackle challenges from the rapid growth in renewable and electricity demand.

NovoGrid’s GridScreen software transforms complex power flow results into actionable insights, offering grid connection options and curtailment analysis of a project’s impact on the grid in a fully automated way. This allows developers to assess site potential significantly faster than typical market standards.

Manning said: “For the past few years, we have closely tracked the industry’s shift toward renewables and electrification, and we are now at a tipping point where grid integration is the number one problem for most of our customers. With this increase in demand, it has been a natural step for us to expand our company, and we are more than happy to be doing so together with SCADA International.”

Keane said: “We are at a point where meeting grid requirements is essential in ensuring a secure and sustainable future energy supply. This puts added pressure on our customers. Bringing in more resources means we can be a stronger partner to help them scale the barrier. I am excited to begin this partnership with SCADA International and support our customers in many more areas than today.”

As a part of the acquisition, the duo will continue in their current roles and contribute to the further development of SCADA International.

Fourth in a row – more to come

This acquisition marks the fourth in under a year for SCADA International. But according to the board at SCADA International, the growth journey continues if the potential is out there:

“As a group, we can now support our clients across the full life cycle of their assets – from the initial phases of planning, design, and grid connection to commercialisation, operations, and maintenance. But there are still other areas of interest to us. Our main objective is to continue to expand our offerings in a way that creates increased value for our customers. Also, if that means investing in new technology or getting more people on board,” said Bagger.