Critical infrastructure digital twin modelling business Neara has acquired Zepben, bringing electrical network modelling capabilities into its platform. The companies did not disclose the amount of the transaction. Both companies are Australian.
Neara said the acquisition will enable it to provide energy grid constraint forecasting, planned outage management, an end-to-end public capacity map that automates electrical and physical design checks, and network model management.
Neara said the acquisition will support what it described as growing demand for combined physical and electrical capabilities as data aggregation and connection remain major bottlenecks for utilities globally, particularly amid the rollout of more data centres. Neara currently services global customers including in California and Ireland.
Neara chief strategy officer Karamvir Singh said: "Neara established the global benchmark for physics modelling and engineering-grade analysis. Acquiring Zepben will enable physical, electrical and risk modelling to come together holistically, addressing a critical US market gap and accelerating our ability to partner with leading players in the electrical modelling category."
Zepben CEO Adam White said: "Joining Neara accelerates what we're working towards in Australia and around the world. Our technology tackles many of the challenges Neara's customers already face, so it's a natural fit. Together, we're bringing electrical and physical modelling into one digital twin grounded in physics."
Neara was last valued at $1.1 billion in February following the completion of a Series D raise.