News
Renewable Energy and Storage Executive Rahm Orenstein Joins Ascend Analytics to Lead the Ascend Energy Exchange™
April 17, 2024
Former Ormat Technologies executive and former CEO of Sunflower Sustainable Investments Ram (Rahm) Orenstein joins Ascend Analytics as Managing Director of its Ascend Energy Exchange™ (AEX).
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Ascend Analytics Announces Strategic Growth Investment
March 21, 2024
Ascend Analytics (“Ascend”), a leading provider of energy transition analytics solutions, has secured a strategic growth investment led by Rubicon Technology Partners ("Rubicon"), a private equity firm which is focused exclusively on investing in and growing software companies. Rubicon is joined by climate investment firm Galvanize Climate Solutions, which invests in companies and solutions advancing the energy transition, and Silversmith Capital Partners, a technology focused growth equity firm.
News
Breakthrough Insurance Deal Offers Storage Developers a Revenue Floor
March 15, 2024
Energy transition software and consulting business Ascend Analytics has closed a second insurance deal that guarantees a minimum level of revenue for energy storage projects in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) market.
News
USQ Risk and Ascend Analytics Close Breakthrough Energy Storage Insurance Structure to Encourage Clean Energy Investment
March 12, 2024
USQRisk, LLC (“USQ”), the international managing general agent specializing in alternative risk transfer solutions, and Ascend Analytics, LLC (“Ascend”), an industry-leading energy software and consulting firm, announce the launch of an innovative solution to provide more efficient financing for utility-scale energy storage projects.
News
Solar PPA prices are creeping up again, but It's mostly because of conditions in a single state
February 15, 2024
Solar power purchase agreement prices rose on average 3% in the final three months of 2023 but overall PPA prices will likely remain on a long-term, downward trend, according to Ascend Analytics. Read the fully story published in Utility Dive.
News
Why the Need for Energy Storage Continues to Grow in SPP
January 3, 2024
A combination of more renewable energy resources, coal-fired power plant retirements, and continuing load growth in the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) market should offer strong opportunities for energy storage developers over the next two years and beyond.
News
Northern California CCA Selects SmartBidder™ to Optimize Bidding Operations for Daggett 3 Solar+Storage Project
December 20, 2023
A prominent Northern California CCA has selected the Ascend Analytics SmartBidder™ platform to optimize live bidding strategies for its fully operational Daggett 3 Solar+Storage Project near Daggett, California.
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New Energy Risk and Ascend Analytics Support Leading Renewable Energy Infrastructure Fund on Merchant Battery Projects in ERCOT
December 19, 2023
New Energy Risk (“NER”) and Ascend Analytics, LLC (“Ascend”) have announced the closing of an industry-first energy storage insurance policy providing coverage for the performance of Ascend’s battery storage forecasting and bidding optimization platform.
News
Grant PUD Announces All-Source RFP to Procure 300 MW of Firm Capacity and Energy
December 12, 2023
Public Utility District No. 2 of Grant County, Washington (Grant PUD) announces an All-Source Request for Proposals (RFP) to supply up to 300 MW of firm capacity and energy. This solicitation is intended to help Grant PUD prepare for future challenges including customer load growth, clean energy goals, resource adequacy, and future participation in the Western Resource Adequacy Program (WRAP).
News
Ascend's SmartBidder™ Helps Bring Wellhead Energy's 68.8 MW Stanton Battery Energy Storage Project Online in CAISO
December 5, 2023
Wellhead Energy, LLC (Wellhead) selected the Ascend Analytics SmartBidder™ platform to optimize live bidding operations for the Stanton Battery Energy Storage (SBES) project, a 68.8 MW / 275.2 MWh battery located in Stanton, California.
News
How Changing Market Dynamics are Impacting Energy Storage M&A
November 28, 2023
The vast number of energy storage projects now citing in grid operators’ interconnection queues across North America is radically changing the balance of supply and demand, as well as valuations for M &A transactions in the sector.
News
American Public Power Association Cites Ascend Analytics' PowerSIMM™ as Driving Factor for LBWL IRP Project Success
November 27, 2023
A recent case study from the American Public Power Association cited Ascend Analytics' PowerSIMM™ energy analytics platform as a primary driver of success for the Lansing Board of Water and Light's (LBWL) 2023 integrated resource plan (IRP).
A recent case study from the American Public Power Association cited Ascend Analytics' PowerSIMM™ energy analytics platform as a primary driver of success for the Lansing Board of Water and Light's (LBWL) 2023 integrated resource plan (IRP).
News
Quality Renewable and Storage Projects Realize a Market Premium
November 10, 2023
November 10, 2023
Mature projects with quality siting are realizing a market premium, despite an oversubscribed interconnection queue, according to Ascend Analytics and reported by Utility Dive.
Mature projects with quality siting are realizing a market premium, despite an oversubscribed interconnection queue, according to Ascend Analytics and reported by Utility Dive.
News
Ascend Analytics Performs ISO Bidding For Hybrid CAISO Project
October 24, 2023
One of the largest Independent Power Producers (IPP)/Developers in the United States deploys Ascend Analytics SmartBidder for its commercial operation of its hybrid storage project on the CAISO grid.
News
Ascend Analytics' SmartBidder™ Supports Bidding for PJM ISO Scott Solar + Storage Project
October 24, 2023
Ascend Analytics’ SmartBidder™ platform deployed in PJM for the Scott Solar Project which is owned and operated by Dominion Energy Virginia and the first hybrid project in the PJM ISO.
News
Why California is facing a Clean Energy Conundrum
October 16, 2023
A chronic logjam in California Independent System Operator (CAISO) interconnection queue and continuing supply chain problems will create a challenge for California to meet a lot of its medium-term targets for clean energy deployment - and will also distort the state's power market operations in the meantime - according to the latest assessment from specialist advisory firm Ascend Analytics.
A chronic logjam in California Independent System Operator(CAISO) interconnection queue and continuing supply chain problems will create a challenge for California to meet a lot of its medium-term targets for clean energy deployment - and will also distort the state's power market operations in the meantime - according to the latest assessment from specialist advisory firm Ascend Analytics.
News
Hedge Contracts Emerge as Alternative Off Take Structure for Solar and Storage Schemes
August 11, 2023
A growing number of solar-plus-storage developers are exploring hedge contracts as alternatives to power purchase agreements for their projects, as it becomes evident that such over-the-counter trades can provide significantly better early-year returns than traditional longer term off take arrangements.
A growing number of solar-plus-storage developers are exploring hedge contracts as alternatives to power purchase agreements for their projects, as it becomes evident that such over-the-counter trades can provide significantly better early-year returns than traditional longer term off take arrangements.
News
State Clean Energy Policies Underpin ISO-NE Energy Storage Market
June 26, 2023
The six states in New England constitute attractive opportunities to develop clean energy and energy storage facilities in the long term, despite the certainty that such projects will not be economic undertakings without substantial subsidies until at least 2028 or 2029.
The six states in New England constitute attractive opportunities to develop clean energy and energy storage facilities in the long term, despite the certainty that such projects will not be economic undertakings without substantial subsidies until at least 2028 or 2029.
News
Utility Dive features Ascend's Dr Brent Nelson's outlook on the ERCOT market
January 23, 2023
January 23, 2023
View differing viewpoints as Texas utility regulators prepare to vote on whether to recommend the state adopt a controversial Performance Credit Mechanism designed to ensure grid reliability during periods of low non-dispatchable power.
View differing viewpoints as Texas utility regulators prepare to vote on whether to recommend the state adopt a controversial Performance Credit Mechanism designed to ensure grid reliability during periods of low non-dispatchable power.
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Energy Storage News features Ascend's market-based solutions for the challenges ERCOT's grid could experience
January 17, 2023
January 17, 2023
In this article, shorter duration energy storage systems are highlighted as a way to resolve and enable ERCOT to match supply with growing demand for electricity, presenting an economic opportunity for energy storage.
In this article, shorter duration energy storage systems are highlighted as a way to resolve and enable ERCOT to match supply with growing demand for electricity, presenting an economic opportunity for energy storage.
News
Voltility highlights Ascend's CAISO market forecast and a near-term decline in price volatility
April 26, 2022
Ascend's CAISO Forecast 3.2 webinar discusses a forecast of rising near-term prices and diminished price volatility as a consequence of CAISO operating practices despite rapidly increasing renewable generation.
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Ascend discusses approaches to improve the "bankability" of storage deployments in the US
April 1, 2022
Ascend’s EnSurance team has developed several mechanisms to guarantee revenues for merchant storage projects. With additional EnSurance products in the works, Ascend expects to secure such arrangements for three GW of storage by the end of 2022.
Ascend's EnSurance team has developed several mechanisms to guarantee revenues for merchant storage projects. With additional EnSurance products in the works, Ascend expects to secure such arrangements for three GW of storage by the end of 2022.
News
Ascend experts describe supply chain costs and storage project delays in California.
March 28, 2022
Results of recent request for offers (RFOs) in California show small increases in prices, however, larger increases are forecasted to follow, growing the gap between the demand for & ability to deliver renewable and storage projects in California. The primary driver of increasing prices is supply chain bottlenecks, including the exploding global demand for key minerals.
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S&P Global quotes Ascend regarding costs and future of storage technologies
March 22, 2022
Millar suggests battery technologies using low-cost materials such as iron, zinc & sodium could soon win off-taker RFOs. Meanwhile, expect PPA prices or renewables and storage to soar in California.
Millar suggests battery technologies using low-cost materials such as iron, zinc & sodium could soon win off-taker RFOs. Meanwhile, expect PPA prices or renewables and storage to soar in California.
News
Sonoma Clean Power Chooses Ascend Analytics’ PowerSIMM Software to Support Planning and Risk Management
August 18, 2021
Ascend Analytics is thrilled to have Sonoma Clean Power (SCP) join its community of PowerSIMM users, starting in August 2021. SCP is a California Community Choice Aggregator (CCA) serving the residents and businesses in Sonoma and Mendocino counties in California with renewable energy.
News
Clean Power Alliance 2020 RFO
May 23, 2021
Ascend Analytics led the 2020 Clean Energy Request for Offer (RFO) on behalf of Clean Power Alliance (CPA), the largest Community Choice Aggregator (CCA) in California.
News
Ascend study assesses the benefits of an expedited transition to renewables for NPPD
March 29, 2021
A pair of reports by independent consultants both conclude that the Nebraska Public Power District could eliminate most of its carbon emissions without having to spend significantly more than it would otherwise for power.
News
Ascend's 100% Clean Energy Study for Glendale Water and Power (GWP)
March 27, 2021
On March 27, 2021, Dr. Gary Dorris presented Ascend's 100% Clean Energy Study for Glendale Water and Power (GWP) to the Glendale City Council.
News
Power Plays podcast by CoBank taps Ascend to lead-off their new podcast series
March 4, 2021
In the new Power Plays podcast "The Next Big Thing: Grid-Tied Batteries", hosted by CoBank's Teri Viswanath, Dr. Gary Dorris examines the four "S" factors critical to battery profitability: siting, sizing, stacking, and (bid) strategy.
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Ascend Chosen by Three California CCAs to Support 2020 Clean Energy RFOs
October 15, 2020
Ascend is pleased to announce new contracts with three California Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs) for support and valuation of their 2020 Clean Energy RFOs, including Clean Power Alliance (CPA), Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE) and San Jose Clean Energy (SJCE).
Ascend Analytics is pleased to announce new contracts with three California Community Choice Aggregators(CCAs) for support and valuation of their 2020 Clean Energy RFOs. Ascend will be offering energy resource procurement administration and valuation services to Clean Power Alliance (CPA) as well as Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE) in partnership with San Jose Clean Energy (SJCE). CPA decided to work with Ascend again following our successful administration of their 2019 Clean Energy and Reliability RFOs.