The investment in Validus DC Systems was made through ABB’s venture capital arm ABB Technology Ventures, which invests in strategically interesting early and growth stage companies.
The investment in Brookfield, US-based Validus complements ABB’s technology platform to assist its entry into the $24bn market for telecommunications and data center power infrastructure.
ABB said DC technology is more energy efficient than traditional alternating current (AC) technology for electrical distribution, and it reduces power equipment, installation, real estate and maintenance costs, resulting in a saving on total facility costs of up to 30%.
ABB has also made investments in companies working in electric vehicle charging infrastructure, smart grid communications, wave power generation, cyber security for utilities and wind farm efficiency.
In September 2010, ABB purchased interest in Power Assure, a developer of power management and optimization software for data centers.
ABB Low Voltage Products division Tarak Mehta said DC systems provide data centers with a game-changing advantage in both operational and capital cost savings.
Validus is engaged in delivering enterprise class medium voltage direct current power infrastructure equipment.
