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Infravision, a startup using drones to string transmission lines, raised a $91 million Series B to scale globally, cofounder and CEO Cameron Van Der Berg tells Axios Pro. 

Why it matters: Autonomous drones can string transmission lines faster and at less cost than manned helicopters.

Zoom in: Singapore's GIC led the round, joined by Activate Capital, Hitachi Ventures and Energy Impact Partners.

The Austin-based company plans to use the financing for new hires to meet its orders and to continue project development.

The company proved out the tech in Australia and now wants to scale across the U.S., Canada and India.

Catch up quick: Infravision raised a $23 million Series A in 2023 led by Energy Impact Partners and including Equinor Ventures and Edison International.

How it works: Infravision combines precision drones with a ground power line winching system to string high-voltage transmission lines, replacing manned helicopters.

Fun fact: Van Der Berg and cofounder Chris Cox first set out to build a massive drone to string the lines, but ended up "failing pretty epically early on," says Van Der Berg.

They then moved the heavy-lifting onto the winch system.

What they're saying: "We've been flooded with orders," says Van Der Berg, an Australian robotics engineer who previously spent years stringing transmission lines with helicopters. 

The company's biggest U.S. customer is PG&E, and it's worked with Canadian utilities BC Hydro and Hydro One and Australian grid firms Ausgrid and Powerlink Queensland. 

The intrigue: "India is building more transmission than the rest of the planet combined at this moment in time," says Van Der Berg.

Zoom out: The electricity demand surge is bumping up against outdated grid infrastructure, utilities using manual tech and glacial permitting processes.  

Venture-backed entrepreneurs are turning to AI and robotics to automate various parts of the grid.

The U.S. government is trying to speed up the process.

The bottom line: Enabling technologies, like drones, could dramatically change the way the grid is deployed.

Exclusive: Infravision raises $91M for grid drones

Drone inspecting or working on a large metal electrical transmission tower with overcast sky background and cranes nearby.

An Infravision grid drone stringing transmission lines. Photo courtesy of Infravision.

Infravision, a startup using drones to string transmission lines, raised a $91 million Series B to scale globally, cofounder and CEO Cameron Van Der Berg tells Axios Pro. Why it matters: Autonomous drones can string transmission lines faster and at less cost than manned helicopters.

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Exclusive: Infravision raises $91M for grid drones

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