ZURICH -- ABB, a global power and automation technology group, announced that it has invested $20 million in California-based Trilliant, a leading provider of smart grid communications infrastructure that enables major improvements in energy efficiency and grid reliability. ABB is part of a syndicate that invested a total of $106 million in Trilliant’s recently announced second round of financing.
The deal gives ABB a link to Trilliant’s end-to-end system for smart grid communications. Trilliant provides utilities with wireless mesh networks that enable two-way communication from the head-end operations center to all devices on the grid – a solution that encompasses not only meters and in-home energy management devices but also substations and grid equipment such as transformers and capacitor banks.
"Solutions for intelligent and secure communication from the neighborhood level to the wide area network are what many utilities are seeking,” said Bazmi Husain, head of ABB’s smart grids initiative. "The Trilliant investment demonstrates ABB’s commitment to partnering in a variety of ways with innovative companies to advance the evolution of smart grid solutions."
Trilliant’s technology is complementary to ABB’s smart grid portfolio, which was recently strengthened through its more than $1 billion acquisition of Ventyx, a leading software provider to global energy, utility, communications, and other asset-intensive businesses. Trilliant’s solutions provide network communications infrastructure that supports many of these applications.
Power networks around the world are increasingly becoming smarter to integrate renewable energies, and meet reliability and efficiency needs. With a broad range of power and automation technologies, ABB is uniquely positioned to provide integrated solutions for smart grid development.
