DNV has acquired Behnke, Erdman and Whitaker Engineering, Inc. (BEW) in California; a consulting company with a particular focus on solar power, wind energy, power transmission and grid integration.

“It is a bit daunting to want to be on the global stage one day and find yourself there the next day, but I really am optimistic about our combined ability to offer a holistic set of services for the renewable energy sector,” says Bill Erdman, President of BEW, Inc (a DNV Company). Photo: Billy Quach

DNV first moved into the clean and renewable energy sector in the late 1970s when the first wind turbines were installed in Denmark. Since then, DNV has continuously expanded its renewable energy services for the wind energy, carbon capture and storage and wave and tidal energy sectors. This growth was achieved both organically and with acquisitions.

One intriguing acquisition candidate was Behnke, Erdman and Whitaker Engineering, Inc. (BEW) in San Ramon, California, which DNV acquired last Autumn. BEW’s founders, Michael Behnke, William Erdman and Charles Whitaker – three seasoned energy professionals with experience in US wind power companies, photovoltaic companies and transmission planning for an electrical utility company – formed BEW in 2002 to provide consulting services to the renewable energy market.

In addition BEW built a laboratory for large prototype testing of power distribution panels for offshore wind farms and inverters and racking systems for photovoltaic, or solar, power. Today, up to 20% of the laboratory’s work is helping photo­voltaic inverter customers meet Underwriters Laboratory (UL) standard 1741.

Complimentary services
BEW’s main customers – utilities, banks, wind and solar developers, equipment manufacturers and engineering companies – are similar to DNV’s customers, and BEW’s services are almost completely complimentary to DNV’s existing services.

In describing the acquisition, Bill Erdman, President of BEW, Inc (a DNV Company) shares his views:

“BEW had grown from the three founders to 35 employees, but we reached the stage where we needed a stronger platform, including both a global infrastructure and additional services to continue to serve our, now DNV’s, customers. We got our wish. Our office in San Ramon will be DNV’s Global Center of Excellence for photovoltaic technology and services as well as services for power transmission and grid integration.”