EnerNOC
Encyclopedia
EnerNOC develops and provides energy management applications and services for commercial, institutional, and industrial customers, as well as electric power grid operators and utilities. It chiefly provides demand response
services that maintain real-time balance between electricity supply and demand. Its energy management services and software promote energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions
, and offer consulting services for energy supply management. It is the market leader in demand response.
For its demand response service, EnerNOC connects each participating site to its network operations center
, or NOC. If a utility company or grid operator has an sudden increase in demand, EnerNOC works with its customers to cut back energy use to restore balance to the system and avoid blackouts or brownouts. During a demand response dispatch, a participating site might switch over to a generator, reduce air conditioning or lighting usage, or cut power to appliances that are not being used. If a site reduces its energy usage during these dispatches, the utility company or grid operator will pay EnerNOC and the customer for this service. Customers are also paid for being on call to reduce demand, thereby providing capacity to the grid operator or utility. EnerNOC offers a web-based demand response application, DemandSMART, that enables them to track their energy reductions.
EnerNOC offers other applications and services that help cut down on energy use. EfficiencySMART analyzes users' real-time power consumption to reveal opportunities to save energy, and it also offers traditional commissioning, retro-commissioning, and energy audit services. Another, SupplySMART, offers consulting and advising services to help companies buy energy efficiently and cut down on price risk. CarbonSMART tracks and manages greenhouse gas emissions for companies trying to reduce their emissions or meet emissions reporting standards.
. The contract is funded with stimulus money through the United States Department of Energy
. Massachusetts hopes to use the study to shave 5 to 15 percent of its annual energy expenses, as well as help shift to alternative energy sources. EnerNOC will be receiving metering information from 470 state-owned buildings, including schools, prisons, and municipal buildings. The information received will include how much energy is being used and where the energy is coming from (for example natural gas
, oil, or renewable energy sources).
In the summer of 2010, EnerNOC contracted with the Tennessee Valley Authority, the nation's largest public power company, for a 10-year, 560 megawatt demand response contract that represented an addition of 400 MW to TVA’s existing deployment of approximately 160 MW with EnerNOC.
In late 2010 and early 2011, respectively, EnerNOC announced agreements to acquire Global Energy Partners and M2M Communications. Global Energy Partners is "an industry leader in designing and implementing utility energy efficiency and demand response programs." M2M Communications specializes in wireless technology solutions for energy management and demand response.
EnerNOC was also named one of the Boston Globe's Top 100 Places to Work in 2009 and 2010, as well as one of the Boston Business Journal
's Best Places to Work in 2008.
Demand response
In electricity grids, demand response is similar to dynamic demand mechanisms to manage customer consumption of electricity in response to supply conditions, for example, having electricity customers reduce their consumption at critical times or in response to market prices...
services that maintain real-time balance between electricity supply and demand. Its energy management services and software promote energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Greenhouse gas
A greenhouse gas is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone...
, and offer consulting services for energy supply management. It is the market leader in demand response.
Applications and Services
As of March 31, 2011, EnerNOC had over 10,000 sites using its applications and services, including commercial buildings, supermarkets, industrial sites, and universities. EnerNOC's applications and services include demand response (branded DemandSMART), energy efficiency (EfficiencySMART), energy supply management (SupplySMART), and greenhouse gas emissions management (CarbonSMART).For its demand response service, EnerNOC connects each participating site to its network operations center
Network Operations Center
A network operations center is one or more locations from which control is exercised over a computer, television broadcast, or telecommunications network....
, or NOC. If a utility company or grid operator has an sudden increase in demand, EnerNOC works with its customers to cut back energy use to restore balance to the system and avoid blackouts or brownouts. During a demand response dispatch, a participating site might switch over to a generator, reduce air conditioning or lighting usage, or cut power to appliances that are not being used. If a site reduces its energy usage during these dispatches, the utility company or grid operator will pay EnerNOC and the customer for this service. Customers are also paid for being on call to reduce demand, thereby providing capacity to the grid operator or utility. EnerNOC offers a web-based demand response application, DemandSMART, that enables them to track their energy reductions.
EnerNOC offers other applications and services that help cut down on energy use. EfficiencySMART analyzes users' real-time power consumption to reveal opportunities to save energy, and it also offers traditional commissioning, retro-commissioning, and energy audit services. Another, SupplySMART, offers consulting and advising services to help companies buy energy efficiently and cut down on price risk. CarbonSMART tracks and manages greenhouse gas emissions for companies trying to reduce their emissions or meet emissions reporting standards.
Notable work
EnerNOC received a $10 million contract in 2010 to track how much energy state-owned facilities use in MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. The contract is funded with stimulus money through the United States Department of Energy
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
. Massachusetts hopes to use the study to shave 5 to 15 percent of its annual energy expenses, as well as help shift to alternative energy sources. EnerNOC will be receiving metering information from 470 state-owned buildings, including schools, prisons, and municipal buildings. The information received will include how much energy is being used and where the energy is coming from (for example natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
, oil, or renewable energy sources).
In the summer of 2010, EnerNOC contracted with the Tennessee Valley Authority, the nation's largest public power company, for a 10-year, 560 megawatt demand response contract that represented an addition of 400 MW to TVA’s existing deployment of approximately 160 MW with EnerNOC.
Expansion
In 2009, EnerNOC bought Cogent Energy, a company that provides building control and energy efficiency systems. In the same year, EnerNOC acquired eQuilibrium Solutions, which provides carbon accounting solutions. In March, 2010, EnerNOC bought SmallFoot, LLC, a company that makes wireless systems to manage demand for smaller facilities. Tim Healy, CEO of EnerNOC, said of the acquisition, "Going deeper into this underserved market represents a large growth opportunity for our company. SmallFoot gives us additional technology to unlock all forms of demand response and deploy our full suite of applications in this exciting market."In late 2010 and early 2011, respectively, EnerNOC announced agreements to acquire Global Energy Partners and M2M Communications. Global Energy Partners is "an industry leader in designing and implementing utility energy efficiency and demand response programs." M2M Communications specializes in wireless technology solutions for energy management and demand response.
Awards and recognition
EnerNOC, which stands for Energy Network Operations Center, has won numerous awards for its technology, customer service and industry. Some of these awards include two 2009 Smart Grid Product of the Year Awards from the Technology Marketing Corporation and Intelligent Communications Partners. EnerNOC’s Boston Business Journal also honored EnerNOC’s EfficiencySMART Insight with a 2011 Best Green Practices Award in the Invention category.EnerNOC was also named one of the Boston Globe's Top 100 Places to Work in 2009 and 2010, as well as one of the Boston Business Journal
Boston Business Journal
The Boston Business Journal is a weekly, business-oriented newspaper published in Boston, Massachusetts. It is published by the American City Business Journals....
's Best Places to Work in 2008.