ASU Laboratory for Energy And Power Solutions (LEAPS)

What ASU Laboratory for Energy And Power Solutions (LEAPS) does

ASU Laboratory for Energy And Power Solutions (LEAPS) is a university research laboratory within Arizona State University's Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Tempe/Mesa, Arizona. The lab takes energy innovations from concept to construction across four service areas: Grid Modernization (distributed control strategies, power electronics, and grid-edge solutions validated on a one-acre microgrid test bed at the ASU Polytechnic Campus), Global Energy Access (rapid mini-grid engineering, business-model design, and turnkey disaster-relief power-water-healthcare systems for underserved communities), Defense Energy Security (national and defense energy-transition planning), and Workforce Development (online microgrid certificates, bootcamps, master classes, and the Microgrid-On-a-Desk K-12 kit). Proprietary tools include the Resilient Infrastructure Simulation Environment (RISE) software, the MOD hardware kit, and grid-cybersecurity curriculum delivered with IncSys PowerSimulator.

LEAPS operates as a sponsored-research and extension-services organization rather than a product company. It reports $59M in cumulative sponsored projects from 28 sponsoring entities, collaborations with 84 external partners across 15 ASU units, and field-deployment impact spanning 200+ locations, 161 MW of clean energy, and 100,000 beneficiaries (with $332M in downstream public/private financing unlocked). Customers span U.S. federal agencies (Office of Naval Research, USAID, USTDA, DoD/ESTCP), multilateral and development organizations (UNDP, GGGI, SEforALL, NRECA International), national governments (Fiji Department of Energy, 15 Pacific Island Countries, Madagascar, Kenya, Uganda, Sierra Leone), utilities (Arizona Public Service), and private technology partners (Xendee, TEXEL Energy Storage, IncSys, PowerData). Revenue derives from sponsored project awards, training-program fees (online certificates, bootcamps, DoD training), and technology-transfer/licensing arrangements; pricing is not publicly disclosed and the entity publishes no revenue figures.

Name

ASU Laboratory for Energy And Power Solutions (LEAPS)

Legal name

Arizona State University Laboratory for Energy And Power Solutions

Website

https://leaps.asu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ASU LEAPS is a university research lab designing microgrids, grid-modernization systems, and clean-energy access programs for U.S. federal agencies, multilateral development organizations, and Pacific Island and African governments, delivered alongside workforce training and the MOD and RISE proprietary tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Energy Research & Engineering Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer Training (611420)

akta.pro primary industry

Controls, Instrumentation & DCS/SCADA Retrofits (Plant & Grid) (EUAEALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Simulation-Based Learning & Virtual Labs (EDAGAEAG), Tools & Platforms Training (Jira, Azure DevOps, MS Project, Smartsheet, etc.) (EDABAHAH)

Keywords

• Microgrid research
• Clean energy access
• Grid modernization
• Workforce training
• Energy transition planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Tempe

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Sponsored research projects: LEAPS secures sponsored projects from government agencies, development organizations, and private sector partners. They have secured $59M in sponsored projects with support from 28 sponsoring entities.
2. Training and workforce development programs: LEAPS offers over 300 hours of training in energy systems, microgrids, minigrids, grid modernization through online certificates, bootcamps, and hands-on programs
3. Technology transfer to private sector: The team creates functional prototypes for laboratory testing and field deployment, with technology transferred to the private sector for scaling

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

LEAPS is a university research laboratory that takes energy innovations from concept to construction through four service areas: Grid Modernization (microgrid and grid-edge solutions, distributed control strategies, power electronics), Workforce Development (training and continuing education for the energy economy), Global Energy Access (mini-grid engineering, rural electrification, disaster-relief turnkey systems, technical assistance to utilities), and Defense Energy Security (energy transition planning for nations and defense). The lab operates a one-acre microgrid test bed and computational laboratory, building functional prototypes that are transferred to the private sector for scaling.

Product overview

ASU Laboratory for Energy And Power Solutions (LEAPS) is a university research laboratory that takes energy innovations from concept to construction. The organization offers four core service areas: Grid Modernization (microgrid control strategies and power electronics), Workforce Development (training and continuing education), Global Energy Access (mini-grid engineering and rural electrification), and Defense Energy Security (energy transition planning). LEAPS provides a portfolio of training products including online Microgrid Certificate Programs (Core Knowledge, Designer, Technician, Operator, Manager), Microgrid Bootcamps, specialized Master Classes, and K-12 education programs. Key educational tools include the Microgrid-On-a-Desk (MOD) and RISE software. Training delivery partners include Xendee and Incsys PowerSimulator for hands-on microgrid optimization and grid operation simulations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Microgrid-On-a-Desk (MOD): An educational training kit that includes conventional generation, renewable generation, energy storage, and transmission and distribution systems with a gaming-style tablet interface for hands-on learning about electric power systems.
• Microgrid Design and Evaluation Online Course
• Grid Operator Training Online Course
• Grid Cybersecurity Master Class
• Resilient Infrastructure Master Class
• Hands-on Microgrid Bootcamp
• Xendee Training
• Online Microgrid Certificate Programs

Products and services

• Grid Modernization Research & Engineering

Quantifiable outcome

• 200+ locations served with extension services
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 January 2025USTDA partnership for community energy and electrification projects globally. ASU LEAPS and ASU Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory host USTDA Director for partnership events.
• Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 July 2024Lead coordinator for Madagascar Integrated Energy Access Plan with clean cooking analysis led by ASU.
• NRECA InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 July 2024Overall project lead and expert in electrification planning for Madagascar IEP, with ASU leading clean cooking analysis.
• Pacific Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (PCREEE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Workshop organizer for regional workshop on accelerating clean energy transitions in Pacific Island Countries with 15 countries and 70+ stakeholders.
• University of the South Pacific (USP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Workshop organizer for Pacific Island Countries energy resilience workshop.
• Giraffe BioenergyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2024Grant recipient ($50,000) under Power Africa/AmpUp program - Kenya cassava cultivation for ethanol biorefinery with ASU energy modeling support.
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Co-presenter of DoD-sponsored ESTCP microgrid training alongside ASU, Slipstream, and Converge Strategies.
• United States Energy Association (USEA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 November 2023Lead of AmpUp consortium under which LEAPS partners on women entrepreneurs in Kenya energy sector.
• Factor[e] VenturescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 November 2023AmpUp consortium partner supporting women-led businesses in Kenya with $50,000 grants and technical assistance for energy sector enterprises.
• 60HertzminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 November 2023Women entrepreneur recipient in Kenya program - Computerized Maintenance Management Software Company for microgrid maintenance.
• SunCultureminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 November 2023Women entrepreneur recipient in Kenya program - climate-smart agriculture company designing solar energy systems and irrigation solutions.
• Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 October 2023Fiji solar mini-grid project consortium partner working on 75 mini-grid sites with $60M capital investment for remote community electrification.
• Xendee CorporationcoreTechnology or Integration · 24 October 2023Fiji mini-grid project consortium partner providing microgrid optimization tools. Also partner for Xendee Training on distributed energy resource optimization.
• Government of Fiji Department of EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 October 2023Fiji government partner for 75 mini-grid sites for remote community electrification through hybrid solar PV systems.
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 October 2023Fiji mini-grid project consortium partner for rural electrification initiative.
• TEXEL Energy StoragecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2020Swedish cleantech company whose thermal battery technology ASU evaluated for U.S. market opportunities. Research funded by TEXEL.
• MapillaryminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 November 2020Sierra Leone distribution network mapping project for mini-grid feasibility analyses.
• YouthMappersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 November 2020Sierra Leone mapping project for mini-grid feasibility and rapid feasibility assessment tool development.
• Arizona Public Service (APS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 March 2020Co-delivery of Microgrid-On-a-Desk STEM training to connect students with electric power industry occupations.
• PIPELINE WORLDWIDEcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 6 March 2020Uganda off-grid medical clinic logistics partner for combined medical, water and power system for South Sudanese refugees.
• Medical Teams InternationalcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 6 March 2020Uganda clinic continuous operation partner for refugee healthcare facility.
• IncSyscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Strategic partner for Grid Cybersecurity Master Class and IncSys PowerSimulator training software. Partner for Grid Operator Training.
• PowerDatacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Strategic partner that has trained thousands of individuals on electric grid operation leading to NERC certification.
• Arizona State University (ASU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2015LEAPS is an ASU laboratory under the Fulton Schools of Engineering. It extends the university's mission into communities, businesses, and government using approaches that allow the university to interface with society in new ways.
• ASU Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2015ASU internal partner hosting events with USTDA Director on community energy and electrification partnership.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Argonne National Laboratory: DOE national laboratory with broad energy systems, storage, and grid research portfolios. Comparable in scope and federal funding model, and active in clean energy deployment at scale.
• Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA): Non-profit organization focused on utility transformation, grid modernization, and clean energy integration. Operates in an adjacent space to LEAPS — research, education, and convening for the utility sector — but at industry-wide scale rather than hands-on deployment.
• Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI): Industry-funded, non-profit R&D organization serving the global utility sector with grid modernization, integration, and reliability research. A broader incumbent that addresses many of the same utility-side problems LEAPS tackles, but at much larger scale and with industry consortium funding.
• MIT Lincoln Laboratory: University-affiliated federally funded research and development center with energy resilience and grid security work for the U.S. government. Comparable academic-defense energy security posture to LEAPS, but at much larger scale and broader mission.

Emerging players

• Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA): Non-profit coalition of state clean energy programs supporting clean energy deployment and workforce development. Comparable focus on program design, financing, and training but typically at policy/program level rather than engineering R&D.

Direct peers

• NRECA International: International arm of the U.S. electric cooperative association that delivers rural electrification planning and training. Direct overlap with LEAPS' mini-grid feasibility work — NRECA International is named as the overall project lead on the Madagascar Integrated Energy Access Plan that LEAPS supports.
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory: DOE national lab with major grid modernization, power systems, and distributed energy resource research. Overlaps with LEAPS on grid-edge solutions and power electronics research for next-generation grid operation.
• Sandia National Laboratories: National laboratory with deep programs in grid security, microgrid research, and energy resilience for defense applications — the same defense energy security domain LEAPS serves via Office of Naval Research and ESTCP work.
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory focused on renewable energy and grid modernization research. Most directly comparable to LEAPS in mission (clean energy R&D, microgrids, workforce training) and acts as a co-presenter on LEAPS' DoD ESTCP training programs.
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL): DOE national lab with significant grid modernization, microgrid, and power systems research programs, including cybersecurity for grid operations — closely aligned with LEAPS' grid cybersecurity master class and resilient infrastructure offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/asuleaps

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about ASU Laboratory for Energy And Power Solutions (LEAPS)