Intel’s investment group yesterday [July 29] highlighted five investments the company recently made in the “cleantech” sector, with three of those investments noticeably within the emerging “smart energy” niche.

Through Intel Capital, the world’s largest maker of semiconductors or silicon chips said it recently invested approximately $10 million in three smart energy and two energy-efficient computing companies. All but one of the companies are US-based.

Four of the companies were follow-on investments, but Intel Capital made a first-time investment in New York-based CPower.

CPower, an electricity demand response and energy efficiency company, delivers energy management services meant to allow companies to make the most efficient use of their facilities through energy-reduction measures. Additionally, these power-cutting initiatives are designed to earn market payments to the companies.

CPower is one of the largest energy management and demand-response firms in North America. Intel’s investment added to the total $10.68 million Series B financing round led by Mayfield Fund.

Intel Capital also recently invested in smart grid infrastructure company Grid Net and home energy-monitoring firm iControl in both of their C funding rounds. It is the third time Intel is investing in Grid Net, which has led in providing the operating system and management control plane for the smart grid through PolicyNet.

In May, Intel hosted a meeting of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) that started to form smart grid development standards.

Intel is also working on the Intel Open Energy Initiative for a standards-based, interoperable solutions in the smart grid application.

Intel Capital, which has invested over $9 billion in over 1,000 companies—over 400 of which have either gone public or been acquired—said it is actively seeking companies worldwide that are producing products in “green” areas.


- Eric Dorente