Gridco Raises $12M for Power Electronics to Tame the Grid Edge

The difference between these devices and the previous generation of load-tap changers, voltage regulators and power transformers is that they’re digitally altering the waveform of the alternating current humming through the grid. That also makes them particularly useful for circuit-specific problems, such as the voltage fluctuations caused by lots of solar PV on a single distribution circuit. GTM Research predicts a $320 million U.S. market by next year for these kinds of devices, built largely on this business case. These are designed less as standalone boxes, and more as stand-ins for the existing types of equipment now deployed for distribution grid voltage management. While the two companies didn’t announce any specific projects or products they might be working on, Michael Rohde, managing director at MR, said the two are "looking forward to jointly exploring synergy potentials for the benefit of our customers in the U.S. and internationally."