Clir Renewables (Clir), a company dedicated to maximising project returns from renewable energy assets, has closed its CAD27 million Series B funding round, which was co-led by Longbow Capital Inc and ArcTern Ventures, and included Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), BDC Capital, Active Impact Investments and Tokio Marine HCC.
Since the business was founded in 2017, Clir has provided critical technology to support owners of renewable energy assets in 11 countries via its AI-driven monitoring and optimisation platform. Clir’s existing customer base collectively own more than 10 per cent of the global installed wind and solar capacity.
This latest round will allow Clir to further develop ‘smart’ products, utilising industry-wide data to evaluate technical and financial risk with more accuracy, enabling improved contractual and financing terms for owners and investors.
Additionally, this round will enable the firm to accelerate Clir’s growth within the existing European and North American markets, as well as grow its presence in Latin America, Africa and Asia-Pacific.
2021 has been characterised by record investment in renewable energy projects and ‘green’ services. This deal demonstrates that for many firms these investments are guided by a desire to take a lead in driving the success of clean energy worldwide. As such, these stakeholders are looking to bring value beyond capital to technology firms such as Clir, the likes of which will be critical to supporting a successful, efficient energy transition.
Gareth Brown, Chief Executive Officer, Clir, says: “We are very pleased to be able to partner with some of the world’s leading energy and technology investors. Technology and data will be at the core of the effective growth of renewables, with comprehensive operational and environmental data increasingly defining the full asset lifecycle, from development and financing to asset optimisation, M&A, insurance and repowering. With the potential for such wide-reaching impacts on every aspect of a renewable asset’s success, it’s critical that data is ‘done right’ and the subsequent analysis communicated effectively every time.”
“We are delighted that our investors want to bring more than just capital to Clir by acting as strategic partners and customers of the business. This is the best possible endorsement of our technology and the gains the platform helps asset owners to achieve.”
Tyson Birchall, Managing Director of Longbow Capital Inc, says: “Longbow’s mission is to support companies that take an innovative approach to bringing energy to the world in the most efficient, cost effective and environmentally responsible manner. Clir mirrors this mission completely, and Gareth and the team have demonstrated that they have the skills, experience and motivation to become a driving force behind the energy transition while building value for their shareholders.”
Tom Rand, Managing Partner of ArcTern Ventures, adds: “As the renewable energy industry builds sufficient scale to reduce climate risk, Clir’s technology enables critical efficiencies across that infrastructure. They cut their teeth with operational efficiency, of course, but now can extend value across the capital stacks associated with that scale of infrastructure.”
Bruce Hogg, Managing Director, Head of the Sustainable Energy Group, CPP Investments, says: “Clir is fast becoming a critical Canadian player in the renewables space and this investment is a strong fit within our innovation, technology and services strategy in our newly formed Sustainable Energy Group. Clir’s existing and emerging capabilities provide a powerful solution for renewable energy optimisation. We are already witnessing the impact of Clir’s technology first-hand in the performance of existing wind assets within our portfolio.”
Cheri Corbett, Director, Cleantech Practice at BDC Capital, says: “We are thrilled to support Clir, a highly innovative Canadian company with software focused on the optimisation of renewable energy assets. We are glad that our financial support will enable the company’s experienced management team realise their ambitious and sustainable growth plan.”
Susan Rivera, Chief Executive Officer, Tokio Marine HCC, adds: “Clir’s analytics are proven to be unmatched in the renewables market. We see the team and their platform as invaluable for establishing a complete, real asset data-led approach to risk management. This investment builds upon our recent acquisition of GCube Insurance Services, the leading underwriter for renewable energy projects. Furthermore, this investment aligns with our environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals of funding opportunities in the renewable energy space; promoting clean energy transition; and supporting businesses in renewable energy project development and operations.”
“As one of Clir’s earliest institutional investors, we have gotten to know the team very well over the years,” says Mike Winterfield, Managing Partner of Active Impact Investments. “Gareth has always been very purposeful about where he wants to go and there’s no doubt he has the tenacity to get there. The Clir team are total experts in their space, and their ability to expand within their massive client base is a strong signal of the value they continue to provide. Having placed senior people on several continents, the company is now making a truly global impact on the clean energy transition we’re seeing around the world.”
