The acquisition strengthens UL’s renewables offerings to assess and optimise solar plant performance.
UL, the global safety science leader and one of the world’s top advisors on the development, evaluation and optimisation of renewable energy projects, announced the acquisition of solar analytics company Clear Sky Analytics’ proprietary software platform and related assets. Clear Sky Analytics co-founders Ajay Saproo and John Corson will also join UL.
The proprietary software platform analyses solar asset performance and provides prescriptive insights. This acquisition expands UL’s solar offerings and the overall depth of its solar and wind renewables expertise which includes advisory services across project life cycle and supply chain, from due diligence to project development, certification, testing and inspection, asset management and reporting.
“We are delighted that the Clear Sky Analytics platform is now part of UL and will help create a safer, more secure and sustainable world,” said Jennifer Scanlon, president and CEO, UL Inc. ‘‘With solar power as an emission-free, reliable source of energy, increasing and optimising its supply enables communities globally to replace carbon-intensive energy sources and significantly reduce global warming emissions. The Clear Sky acquisition furthers how UL is applying human, brand and financial capital to help our customers deliver positive actions that benefit our planet, its people and the prosperity of future generations.’
Founded by solar industry veterans Ajay Saproo and John Corson, Clear Sky Analytics specialises in distilling and interpreting operating PV solar plant data to improve performance by providing actionable insights. Clear Sky Analytics’ proprietary software platform integrates data quality management, performance modelling and analysis algorithms to generate a comprehensive and quantitative accounting of energy produced and energy lost to specific causes.
The acquisition of the Clear Sky Analytics platform complements UL’s existing comprehensive portfolio of independent technical advisory, testing, inspection, certification and software services to the solar energy industry. Designed to help stakeholders, such as developers, investors, financiers, owners, operators, utilities, grid managers and policymakers, understand the intricacies of solar energy production and its ability to produce clean, renewable energy, these services support all phases of the project life cycle including feasibility, planning, design, construction, financing, investment, operations, maintenance and management of solar energy assets.
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“Enabling our customers to plan, finance, build, operate and manage solar energy projects is key to the overall transition from our fossil fuel energy present to a renewables intensive future,”, said Jason Fischer, president, Enterprise and Advisory at UL. “Clear Sky Analytics’ cutting-edge prescriptive insight in the fast-growing solar market is the ideal complement to UL’s advisory, certification and testing services. We are pleased to welcome Clear Sky Analytics to UL and are confident their deep expertise within solar will help drive continued innovation that will benefit our global customer base.’’
Since Clear Sky’s inception in March 2017, the company has provided development and operational insight for more than 150 solar projects that span diverse geographies and designs. This includes collaborations between Clear Sky and UL. Utilising each organisation’s expertise, engagements have included UL advisory and laboratory and field inspections services combined with Clear Sky’s plant performance data analysis that has resulted in optimised solar plant performance and substantial operator cost savings.
“We are thrilled to be part of the UL family to help customers globally mitigate risk and optimise returns from their solar projects,” said Ajay Saproo, founder and CEO, Clear Sky Analytics. “Having previously partnered with UL on various projects, we are confident that our combined capabilities will create value for our customers and drive technological advances in navigating the complexities of managing solar plants over the project lifecycle.”
