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    1. Energy Efficiency

    ABB pours capital into startup Brainbox AI, targeting C&I energy use & carbon reduction

    Nov. 4, 2021
    Heating, ventilation and cooling systems in commercial buildings accounts for 28 percent of total global energy-related CO2 emissions
    Illustration courtesy Brainbox AI
    Brainbox Ai 61844fbaf2a1d

    Technology and equipment firm ABB is investing into a Montreal-based startup which helps businesses use artificial intelligence to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions.

    ABB’s Smart Buildings division will combine its digital solutions, including ABB Ability Building Ecosystem, with BrainBox AI’s predictive and cloud-based solution. Brainbox AI uses its tools to reduce energy use from heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in commercial buildings.

    “Our core focus is on bringing radical change to new and existing buildings with safe, secure, smart and sustainable solutions,” said Oliver Iltisberger, president of ABB’s Smart Buildings division. “I am confident that ABB’s investment in BrainBox AI, when combined with our ABB Ability Building Ecosystem, will help us leapfrog current approaches to digital transformation, further reduce energy costs and play our part in addressing climate change.”

    HVAC systems account for most of the energy use and carbon footprint of a typical commercial building while buildings contribute 28 percent of total global energy-related CO2 emissions. Brainbox AI says its deep learning software can generate up to 25 percent reduction in energy costs and 20 to 40 percent lower carbon emissions.

    Financial terms of the Series A round investment were not disclosed. The joint offering is available beginning with this quarter.

    About the Author

    EnergyTech Staff

    Rod Walton is senior editor for EnergyTech.com. He has spent 14 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist.

    Walton formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    He can be reached at [email protected]. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids.

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.