Drone business Infravision expects to double in size over next 12 months

Sunshine Coast-based startup Infravision, which has developed a drone-based powerline stringing system, expects to hire another 70 over the next 12 months as the energy transition drives demand for more high-voltage electricity transmission lines.

In a statement from the Queensland government on Monday, it was shared that Infravision and state-owned energy company Powerlink are using drones to string 50 kilometres of transmission lines, connecting the Genex Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro System to the Queensland electricity SuperGrid.

Infravision was established in 2018 by by robotics engineer Cameron Van Der Berg and military veteran Chris Cox. has grown to 70 employees, and its TX system is an industry-first. 

According to its website it combines “stringing drone with an electric smart puller tensioner bundled into a compact tough off road trailer capable of deploying to both urban and remote locations.” This replaces the use of helicopters.

“We take pride in how our collaboration with Powerlink is fostering innovation at our Queensland manufacturing facility, creating jobs for Queenslanders and enabling the integration of cutting-edge Australian technology and services to bolster the worldwide shift towards sustainable energy,” said Infravision Regional Director Matt Jones.

Powerlink linked up with Infravision in 2019 via the EnergyLab’s Scale Up Program, and Infravision has since begun exporting its technology – assembled at Coolum Beach – to America, Canada and India.

Kidston is Genex’s flagship project and is a former gold mine in far-north Queensland that is being converted to a 250 megawatt pumped-hydro station.

“This technology has proven to be less intrusive for landholders, safer for our team and gets the job done quicker,” said Powerlink Chief Executive Officer, Paul Simshauser.

“I am proud of our team who are constantly on the lookout for innovation and new technologies to enhance the way we operate.

Infravision completed a $US 23 million (approximately $36 million at the time) Series A funding round in September last year, led by Energy Impact Partners.

Further reading

ARENA acts on transmission line monitoring

Pushing water uphill: Snowy 2.0 was a bad idea from the start. Let’s not make the same mistake again

Picture: supplied