CleanDesign Secures $20 Million Growth Investment to Accelerate Hybrid Energy Solutions Across Industrial Sectors
CleanDesign, a software-driven energy technology company focused on transforming how industrial operations generate and manage power, has announced the successful closing of a $20 million growth investment round led by growth equity firm Edison Partners. The funding marks a significant milestone for the company as it seeks to expand the deployment of its Hybrid Energy Management Systems (hEMS) across North America, with a particular emphasis on the rapidly growing mining sector.
The investment arrives at a time when industrial operators—especially in oil and gas and mining—are under increasing pressure to reduce operating costs, improve reliability, and meet stricter environmental regulations. CleanDesign’s approach offers a compelling solution: optimize existing diesel-based power infrastructure using advanced software and battery integration, rather than requiring costly and disruptive system overhauls.
At the core of CleanDesign’s offering is its hEMS platform, which combines battery storage systems with proprietary software powered by artificial intelligence. This platform is designed to optimize power consumption in real time, enabling industrial operators to reduce fuel usage, lower emissions, and extend the life of their equipment. By enhancing the efficiency of diesel-powered systems, CleanDesign provides an immediate and practical pathway to improved sustainability without necessitating a full transition to renewable energy sources.
According to CleanDesign CEO Mark Lerohl, the company has experienced strong momentum over the past year, particularly in the mining sector. He noted that customers are seeing tangible benefits, including improved uptime, significant cost savings, and measurable emissions reductions.
“In the past year, we’ve seen increasingly strong traction, especially in mining, alongside clear proof of unit economics in the field,” Lerohl explained. “Customers are realizing improved uptime and up to 20 percent reductions in emissions, along with cost savings that directly impact their bottom line—all without disrupting their existing operations.”
One of the key challenges faced by remote mining operations is their heavy reliance on diesel fuel for power generation. In isolated regions where access to traditional energy infrastructure is limited or nonexistent, diesel generators remain the primary energy source. However, transporting fuel to these remote sites can be extremely costly, with prices reaching as high as $10 per gallon in some cases due to logistical complexities.
CleanDesign’s technology directly addresses this issue by reducing diesel consumption by approximately 10 to 15 percent. While this may seem modest at first glance, the financial impact is substantial given the high cost of fuel in these environments. For operators, even incremental efficiency gains can translate into millions of dollars in savings over time.
The company’s solutions are already deployed across a range of industrial settings, including leading drilling service providers and remote mining operations in regions such as Mexico and Nunavut in Canada’s Arctic Circle. These deployments highlight the versatility and robustness of CleanDesign’s systems, which are designed to perform reliably in some of the most challenging operating conditions in the world.
A major differentiator for CleanDesign lies in its software capabilities. Each hEMS unit collects approximately 60,000 data points per second, enabling the system to continuously analyze and optimize energy usage in real time. This data-driven approach allows the platform to anticipate energy demand patterns and dynamically adjust performance to maximize efficiency and reliability.
The ability to layer intelligent software onto existing hardware infrastructure is particularly valuable in industries that have historically seen limited digital innovation. Rather than requiring companies to replace their entire energy systems, CleanDesign’s solution enhances what is already in place, delivering immediate performance improvements with minimal disruption.
Steve Zieja, Principal at Edison Partners, emphasized this point, noting that CleanDesign’s approach fills a critical gap in the market. He led the investment alongside General Partner Gregg Michaelson, both of whom will join CleanDesign’s Board of Directors as part of the agreement.
“This is a segment of critical infrastructure that has seen limited software innovation,” Zieja said. “CleanDesign brings a unique value proposition by layering intelligent, hardware-agnostic software onto existing systems. Operators can achieve meaningful performance gains without replacing their infrastructure. The team has built a differentiated solution and earned trust in some of the most demanding environments. With a massive installed base of diesel systems globally, the growth opportunity is significant.”
The new funding will enable CleanDesign to accelerate the rollout of its hEMS units across additional sites and expand its reach into new industrial applications. The company also plans to invest in product development, including further advancement of its Highline system. This newer offering is designed to help industrial operations connect to grid power while continuing to optimize energy usage through CleanDesign’s software platform.
The Highline system represents an important step toward bridging the gap between traditional diesel-based power and more integrated, flexible energy solutions. By enabling seamless interaction between on-site generation and grid connectivity, the system offers operators greater control over their energy mix and opens the door to further efficiency gains.
Edison Partners’ investment in CleanDesign is part of a broader strategy focused on digital infrastructure and energy innovation. The firm has previously backed companies such as 120Water, Budderfly, Overhaul, RapidDeploy, and Seismos, all of which operate at the intersection of technology and critical infrastructure. CleanDesign’s inclusion in this portfolio underscores the growing importance of software-driven solutions in modernizing energy systems.
As industries continue to navigate the dual challenges of cost management and environmental responsibility, solutions like CleanDesign’s hEMS platform are gaining traction as practical, scalable options. Rather than waiting for large-scale infrastructure changes or complete energy transitions, companies can achieve immediate benefits by optimizing what they already have.
Source Link: https://www.businesswire.com/
