Generac Strengthens C&I Microgrid Offering with Ageto Acquisition

On-site electrical generator manufacturer Generac Power Systems is strengthening its position in the full-service microgrid sector with the acquisition of controllers company Ageto.

The deal announced Monday will help integrate systems for commercial and industrial (C&I) customers, Generac Domestic C&I President Erik Wilde said in a statement. The two companies have been working together since 2021 to integrate Ageto’s microgrid controller with Generac’s battery storage systems and generators.

“This acquisition enhances our ability to offer a complete ecosystem of energy technologies to commercial and industrial customers with multiple facilities,” Wilde said. By integrating Ageto’s controllers and software, “we are simplifying asset integration, control and optimization for our customers and creating a competitive advantage for Generac.”

To be considered a microgrid, on-site energy assets such as solar, battery storage and generators require a control system to coordinate and monitor all parts of the microgrid. The microgrid controller market, which has grown significantly in recent years as customers seek to combine sustainability goals with energy reliability requirements, could grow by 20% annually to a $45 billion global revenue market by 2034, ResearchandMarkets predicted earlier this year.

Ageto controllers have been used in microgrids such as the Hotel Marcel project in Connecticut (pictured above) and in the remote town of Hughes, Alaska.

The Ageto deal is the latest acquisition by Generac Power Systems, which bolsters its multi-asset microgrid interests. In late June, Generac announced it was buying PowerPlay Battery Energy Storage System, an energy storage engineering, procurement and construction business, from its SunGrid Solutions division.

The PowerPlay acquisition was also seen as part of Generac’s goal to offer a complete energy ecosystem to C&I customers in the U.S.

In July, Generac Power Systems received a grant of up to $200 million over five years to facilitate the installation of home solar and battery storage systems for disadvantaged households in Puerto Rico. The company has been installing backup power on the island for more than 20 years.

Late last year, Generac announced it was making a “small investment” in smart EV charging technology provider Wallbox. As part of the investment, Generac said it will offer its customers Wallbox EV charging solutions.

Generac sponsored the Microgrid Knowledge 2024 conference in Baltimore in April. Microgrid 2025 will be held April 15-17 in Dallas.