AUSTIN, TX--(Marketwired - May 12, 2015) - Younicos, a global leader in intelligent grid-scale energy storage solutions, has signed a long-term lease for a new and expanded North American headquarters facility in Austin, Texas. With 32,500 square feet, the commercial location provides enough space for the company's growing business and staff. As part of the move, a new Younicos Technology Center will be built to provide a wider range of energy system testing capabilities.
James McDougall, CEO of Younicos, said: "This move is the next logical step for Younicos. We are looking at a huge market with numerous opportunities and we're fully prepared to engage them with our expert team and unique technology. Beginning this summer, all three Younicos business units -- Technology, Development and Consulting, will work under one roof to provide comprehensive service to our clients."
The new Technology Center will expand the company's ability to perform energy system testing under real-world conditions. It will house state-of-the-art hardware, including various battery technologies, inverters and power controls, as well as power lines and transmission interconnections. Renewable energy simulators can recreate energy flows based on live weather data, while load simulators can duplicate actual energy consumption profiles. McDougall added: "Our new facility will allow for a broad range of simulations, providing clients with the highest level of planning certainty in terms of functionality, costs and timing."
The building at 3100 Alvin Devane Boulevard is located about ten minutes from Bergstrom International Airport and downtown Austin. Stephen Prince, Chief Revenue Officer of Younicos, said: "The City of Austin has always been one of the most innovative and progressive municipalities in the country. We wanted to place our North American offices, including engineering, development, testing, and system monitoring in a utility community that would benefit from our innovation and expertise in the area of energy storage solutions. Austin Energy is an ideal utility partner for our company, with robust interconnection capabilities, a visionary Smart Cities initiative, and a highly collaborative technology team. "
"We celebrate Younicos's move into our community," said Debbie Kimberly, Austin Energy Vice President of Customer Energy Solutions. "We look forward to serving them as our customer and working with them as a technology innovator in the area of energy storage."
Prince concluded: "The regulatory framework in Texas has also been a beacon for utility policy development. This includes redesign of the ancillary services market in ERCOT, notably the creation of a primary frequency response policy, as well as establishing policy around smart grid assets. At Younicos, we've proven that energy storage is a fundamental smart grid asset for a host of valuable services and grid-related solutions."
About Younicos
Younicos is a recognized pioneer in energy storage, with nearly 100 megawatts of storage capacity installed globally. Almost one-third of these installations are in the state, including the Notrees Wind Farm in West Texas, which is the largest wind-integrated energy storage site in North America. This significant installed base reflects the policy vision and forward thinking that are characteristic of the Texas energy market.
Contact Information:
Media Contact
Eugene Hunt
Phone: 978-687-2342