SAIC Forms Strategic Alliance with Smart Grid Technology Company BPL Global, Ltd.
PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) has formed a strategic alliance with Pennsylvania-based BPL Global, Ltd. (BPLG), a smart grid technology software and services firm that develops and deploys solutions to improve the efficiency and reliability of utility networks.
SAIC invested $10 million for a minority stake in BPLG as part of the deal. SAIC's investment represented a little less than half of the $22 million BPLG raised in its most recent round. The additional $12 million came from Cross Atlantic Capital Partners and existing BPLG shareholders that include, El Dorado Investment Company, Al-Deera Holding Co., K.S.C.C., and Novitas Capital.
BPLG provides an integrated suite of software and consulting services to electric utilities and their clients that enable intelligent grids that more efficiently manage demand, integrate distributed energy resources, improve service reliability, and optimize cost and capital productivity.
"This investment and our strategic alliance with BPLG represent further strides in SAIC's strategy to provide life-cycle capabilities to the rapidly evolving power industry, following our recent acquisition of R.W. Beck Group, Inc.," said J.T. Grumski, SAIC senior vice president and business unit general manager. "We look forward to integrating a number of SAIC's capabilities into the PowerSG platform and further expanding our support to this growing market." Working together, SAIC and BPLG say they plan to focus on addressing the entire life cycle of utility client needs through the intelligent transformation of electrical network and utility operations. From strategy consulting to large-scale solution deployments, SAIC and BPLG say they will market a holistic approach to addressing energy, environment, infrastructure and sustainability challenges.
The companies look to the alliance to join SAIC's expertise in utility engineering, asset consulting, program management, systems integration, design/build, renewable energy, cybersecurity, data analytics, and climate science with BPLG's smart grid solutions.
BPLG's solutions include the PowerSG solution suite, a service-oriented architecture-based integration platform supporting solutions that address the energy delivery value chain from the substation to customer premises. BPLG's PowerSG solutions help utilities improve reliability, integrate distributed energy resources, enhance demand management capabilities, monitor critical grid assets, and provide real-time control.
"We are at an inflection point for the smart grid industry," said Keith Schaefer, CEO of BPL Global. "Stimulus funding in the US and countries around the world has significantly increased the number and size of grid modernization projects. SAIC, with a rich legacy of innovation and strong presence in the electric utility industry, is well positioned to contribute to the development and deployment of smart grid technology on a global scale."
SAIC is a scientific, engineering, and technology applications company that works with clients in national security, energy and the environment, critical infrastructure, and health. The firm has approximately 45,000 employees serving clients in the US Department of Defense, the intelligence community, the US Department of Homeland Security, other US Government civil agencies, and selected commercial markets. SAIC recently moved its headquarters to, Va., SAIC had annual revenues of $10.1 billion for its fiscal year ended 31 January 2009. BPL Global partners with local utilities, Internet service providers, equipment suppliers and financiers to create end-to-end solutions integrating the best in software, communications, hardware, and managed services to aggressively deploy smart grid solutions globally.