EMerge Alliance

What EMerge Alliance does

EMerge Alliance is a U.S.-based nonprofit, open-industry membership association founded in 2008 and headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. The organization develops and promotes technical standards for DC and hybrid AC/DC microgrid power systems targeting commercial and industrial buildings, data and telecom centers, residential properties, EV charging infrastructure, indoor agriculture, utilities, and community-scale energy networks. Its core product portfolio centers on a portfolio of technical standards: the DC & Hybrid AC/DC Microgrid Technical Standard (Version 1.0, March 2024), the Occupied Space Standard (24 VDC for commercial interiors), the Data/Telecom Center Standard, the ANSI C12.32-2021 DC Revenue Grade Metering Standard, and the Interoperability Data Model (IDM) Standard (Version 1.2, September 2025), with a Grid-of-Grids Interconnection Standard in development.

The underlying technology combines codified safety architectures — 350/700 VDC within NEC Class 1 limits and 24 VDC within NEC Class 2 limits — with a machine-readable JSON device data model designed to enable AI-facilitated and traditional software applications for microgrid design and equipment compatibility. The alliance maintains partnerships with federal agencies (HUD, DOE), industry bodies (BICSI, SEIA, SEPA via RE+ Events), and major OEMs and utilities including Cisco, Emera Technologies, Direct Energy Partners, The Sun Company, Block Energy, and B.L. Coliker Associates.

EMerge operates a tiered membership model (Governing, Participating, Corresponding, Utility) with annual dues, supplemented by sponsorships and event-related revenue from the Grid Edge Theater demonstrations at RE+ Events and the RE+Source PRO digital catalog. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. Day-to-day operations are run by a small staff (1-10 employees) under President Dusan Brhlik and Chairman Brian T. Patterson.

Name

EMerge Alliance

Legal name

EMerge Alliance

Website

https://emergealliance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

EMerge Alliance is a nonprofit membership association that develops open technical standards for DC and hybrid AC/DC microgrid power systems used by OEMs, utilities, integrators, and federal agencies across commercial, residential, data center, EV charging, and agriculture applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Power Infrastructure Standards

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAGAF

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

SECONDARYEUAEAEAD

Microgrid + Storage EPC & Systems Integration

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Energy Infrastructure & Services (EPC, O&M, Field Services)/Energy Storage EPC & Integration (BESS, PCS, EMS)

Keywords

• DC microgrid standards
• Hybrid power distribution
• Industry standards association
• Low voltage DC power
• Microgrid interoperability

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: EMerge Alliance is a nonprofit, open-industry membership association. Membership fees support standards development, market development activities, and industry education. Membership is tiered with different access levels and pricing for Governing, Participating, Corresponding, and Utility members. Full standards are available only to members.
2. Standards Documentation: Free Public Overviews of standards are available for download. Full versions of standards are available exclusively to Alliance members (Governing, Participating, General and Corresponding members).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

EMerge Alliance is an open, nonprofit industry association that develops, publishes, and promotes vanguard technical standards for DC and hybrid AC/DC distributed energy microgrid power systems. Its product portfolio centers on technical standards covering commercial/industrial buildings (Occupied Space), data/telecom facilities, microgrid architectures, revenue-grade DC metering, and a JSON-based Interoperability Data Model that enables cross-vendor equipment compatibility. Standards are made available to members through a tiered membership program, while free public overviews support market education and adoption.

Product overview

EMerge Alliance is an open-industry nonprofit association that develops and promotes vanguard standards for DC and hybrid AC/DC microgrid systems. The organization's product portfolio centers on technical standards including the DC & Hybrid AC/DC Microgrid Technical Standard (Version 1.0), Occupied Space Standard (for commercial interiors), Data/Telecom Center Standard, Interoperability Data Model (IDM) Standard Version 1.2, and the ANSI C12.32-2021 DC Revenue Grade Metering Standard. A Grid of Grids Microgrid Interconnection Standard is currently in development. Supporting offerings include the RE+Source PRO platform (powered by the IDM data model for equipment compatibility), the Grid Edge Theater live microgrid demonstrations at RE+ Events, and the Electric Avenue Webinar Series for industry education. The organization also facilitates live microgrid demonstrations and provides a device registry for EMerge registered products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DC & Hybrid AC/DC Microgrid Technical Standard A comprehensive technical standard for DC and hybrid AC/DC microgrid systems covering power conversion, interconnect infrastructure, grounding and protection, and example architectures. Creates an integrated open platform for power, infrastructure, peripheral device and control applications to facilitate the hybrid use of AC and DC power within single power system domains. Version 1.0 released March 2024.
• Occupied Space Standard A low voltage DC power distribution system standard for commercial building interiors operating at 24 VDC (Class 2 circuits). Provides safe, flexible, plug 'n play low voltage DC power distribution with power, infrastructure, peripherals such as lighting, and controls on a common platform. Supports hybrid AC/DC power and connects directly to on-site renewable generation and storage.
• Data/Telecom Center Standard A technical standard for DC power distribution in data centers and telecommunications facilities. Enables enhanced distribution capabilities, lower equipment costs, and improved sustainability through reduced copper use. Part of the DC & Hybrid AC/DC Microgrid Standard family.
• Interoperability Data Model (IDM) Standard A digital model framework defining critical power flow characteristics of individual devices for use in DC and Hybrid AC/DC Microgrids. Uses JSON format for machine-readable equipment data, covering power sources, conversions, storage, distribution, grounding, protection, and loads such as lighting, appliances, EV chargers, electric heat pumps, and subsystems including USB-PD, PoE, and Class 4 FMP. Open-source licensed for general public use.
• DC Revenue Grade Metering Standard (ANSI C12.32-2021) Establishes acceptable performance criteria for revenue grade DC watt hour meters and demand meters. Covers accuracy class designations, current class designations, voltage ratings, environmental tests, and immunity tests. Approved as American National Standard in March 2021.

Quantifiable outcome

• DC systems can be 200-1000% more reliable than equivalent AC systems due to fewer conversion components and reduced heat-related failures
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• Black & VeatchminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 September 2025Black & Veatch sponsors the Grid Edge Theater at RE+ 2025, where EMerge Alliance coordinates microgrid demonstrations and educational content.
• RE+Source PROcoreTechnology or Integration · 3 September 2025RE+Source PRO is an online microgrid product catalog designed by Direct Energy Partners and powered by SEIA and SEPA. It uses EMerge Alliance's IDM data model to organize equipment data in a standardized open-source JSON framework, connecting users with manufacturers and enabling AI-facilitated microgrid design.
• BICSIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024BICSI, a global association for ICT professionals with 26,000+ members in nearly 100 countries, formalized a collaborative relationship with EMerge Alliance in March 2024. The collaboration focuses on fostering growth at the intersection of data and energy transmission. Organizations agreed to jointly explore standards development for microgrid, fault-managed power, and limited energy applications, as well as delivering education through participation in conferences, events, and meetings.
• RE+ EventscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 February 2024RE+ Events is co-owned by SEPA and SEIA and hosts the largest clean energy event in North America. EMerge Alliance is an industry partner of RE+ Events, coordinating Grid Edge Theater microgrid content and live demonstrations at RE+ events. RE+Source PRO platform is powered by SEIA and SEPA.
• Direct Energy PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2023Direct Energy Partners engineered the RE+ 2023 live microgrid demonstration in collaboration with EMerge Alliance. The company also designed RE+Source PRO, an online microgrid product resource platform. CEO Dusan Brhlik serves as EMerge Alliance President and chairs the DC & Hybrid AC/DC Microgrid Technical Standards Committee.
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2023HUD hosted the Innovative Housing Showcase on the National Mall in Washington, DC (June 9-11, 2023). EMerge Alliance, along with member Block Energy, demonstrated a live solar-powered microgrid. EMerge is developing vanguard standards for microgrids to help reduce cost and mitigate financing risk in support of HUD's mission to create quality, affordable homes.
• U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2023EMerge Alliance collaborated with DOE and HUD to present a one-day Energy Efficiency, Resilience, and Decarbonization program at the National Building Museum. Session topics included affordable resilient net zero electrified housing, housing decarbonization strategies, and microgrid innovations for affordable housing.
• Cisco Systems Inc.coreTechnology or Integration · 3 May 2023Cisco Systems joined the EMerge Alliance Governing Board in May 2023 as a long-time Participating member. Cisco brings expertise in DC-based power over ethernet (PoE) and digital fault-managed DC power (FMP). IEEE Senior Member Joel Goergen leads Cisco's team contributing to EMerge vanguard standards development.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BICSI: Global nonprofit association for ICT infrastructure professionals with 26,000+ members, and a formal collaboration partner of EMerge since March 2024. Direct peer as a membership-based standards and education association serving overlapping ICT/building infrastructure professionals.
• Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA): Utility-focused nonprofit organization that co-owns RE+ Events and is an EMerge partner on RE+Source PRO. Comparable as a membership association serving electric utility and clean energy stakeholders intersecting with EMerge's utility segment.
• U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC): Nonprofit that develops the LEED green building rating system, addressing building energy and sustainability standards. Comparable as a membership-based standards organization that influences commercial building infrastructure decisions overlapping with EMerge's commercial/industrial segment.
• Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA): U.S. solar industry trade association that co-owns RE+ Events alongside SEPA and powers the RE+Source PRO platform. Direct peer as a clean energy membership association partnering with EMerge on event programming and product discovery.

Broad incumbents

• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): Publisher of the National Electrical Code (NEC), which governs DC voltage classifications referenced by EMerge standards. Comparable as a safety-code authority for DC power infrastructure, but operating at the broader electrical safety level.
• IEEE Standards Association: Global standards body that develops DC microgrid, PoE, and smart grid specifications. Comparable to EMerge as a consensus-based standards developer, but operates at vastly broader scope and scale across many technology domains.
• American National Standards Institute (ANSI): U.S. national standards coordinator that approved ANSI C12.32-2021 developed by EMerge. Comparable as the umbrella standards accreditation body through which EMerge achieves formal standards recognition.
• Underwriters Laboratories (UL): Safety science organization that certifies DC power equipment and develops safety standards referenced by EMerge's NEC Class 1/Class 2 specifications. Comparable in setting energy equipment safety standards, but with much larger commercial certification operations.
• International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC): Global standards body that publishes IEC standards for DC power up to 1500V referenced by EMerge's architecture. Comparable as the international consensus standards organization setting voltage and safety specifications overlapping EMerge's framework.

Emerging players

• Microgrid Knowledge: Media and information services company focused on microgrid industry news and education, adjacent to EMerge's Electric Avenue webinar series. Comparable as an industry-development and market-education player in the same microgrid ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/emergealliance
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCExample
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/emerge-alliance

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EMerge Alliance