Vladimir Grebenyuk: Private R&D Company and Integrated Solutions Provider Based in British Columbia

Ascent Systems Technologies is a private R&D company and integrated solutions provider based in British Columbia, Canada. Drawing on experience in designing complex aerospace, communication and defence systems, Ascent specializes optimal control, autonomous systems as well as distributed and mobile clean energy solutions.

Tell us about yourself?

I used to be a “rocket scientist”, developing guidance & navigation systems for spacecraft, as well as satellite communication. Now I am back to Earth, bringing space technology with me to save lives and make life on this planet better.

If you could go back in time a year or two, what piece of advice would you give yourself?

Can I go 20 years back? If I could, I would advise myself to start earlier and find as many people sharing common vision as possible.

What problem does your business solve?

While a global demand for clean energy is growing exponentially, it is often a challenge to deliver it where it is needed the most. This is especially the case in situations such as disaster recovery efforts, remote communities, mining, research & exploration, as well as many other applications in hard-to-reach locations. Today’s dominant solution to this problem – the diesel generator – is not sustainable: it needs constant fuel resupply, suffers from high operating costs, and produces harmful emissions.
Our solution – Autonomous Mobile Energy System (AMES) – addresses all those problems. The AMES is a self-contained module that can be delivered on demand anywhere in the world, deployed automatically and would provide a reliable uninterrupted source of clean energy. It does not require fuel, has a small physical footprint, extremely low operating costs and generates zero emissions.

What is the inspiration behind your business?

I came from Ukraine with two small children soon after Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster. We hear about natural and anthropogenic disasters around the world on a daily basis, which leave many people without energy for heating, water and for medical needs. Millions of people around the world are displaced and live in refugee camps which need energy. We want to help. In an ironic and tragic twist five million Ukrainians are now displaced by Russian invasion, and the country now needs energy which would relieve it from dependency on Russian oil and gas.

What is your magic sauce?

We use space technologies – both hardware and software – in a unique way to create an uninterrupted source of clean energy, which can be delivered on demand anywhere on demand, automatically deploy and operate autonomously without the need for fuel or connection to the power grid. The resulting system is an intersection of space-grade robotics, advanced control algorithm and sustainable energy.

What is the plan for the next 5 years? What do you want to achieve?

We want to bring reliable and affordable clean energy to people everywhere in the world. We want to get rid of the networks of pipelines, but also from monstrous centralized power grid. Energy should be accessible anywhere where it is needed.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?

The biggest challenge, apart from money, is people’s inertia. It is always easier to use something we used to than to try something new.

How do people get involved/buy into your vision?

We would like to reach out to all who is involved in disaster preparedness, response and recovery, including military, UN humanitarian missions and others. We can be contacted directly by email: ascent@ascentsystems.ca