ABB, a Switzerland-based power and automation technology group, has used its corporate venturing group to make a strategic investment in Pentalum Technologies, an Israel-based company developing wind turbine controls.
Pentalum raised $9m in its first round from venture capital firms Cedar Fund, Evergreen Venture Partners and Draper Fisher Jurvetson in July. The round was then kept open to allow ABB in and increase the amount raised.
Girish Nadkarni, head of ABB Technology Ventures, said: "Cost and complexity issues are hampering the widespread adoption of optimization systems for wind power. We have invested in Pentalum because we believe their technical approach will significantly improve profitability for developers and operators of this important renewable energy source."
Pentalum is developing its light detection and ranging technology to remotely sense the wind vector in front of turbines in order to align them. Pentalum’s system is also applicable to wind forecasting and site assessment.
Sagie Tsadka, executive president of Pentalum, said: "Given ABB’s broad expertise and strong position with wind turbine manufacturers and wind farm developers and operators, they are a very strong partner for Pentalum."