The real estate investment manager is now the largest investor in Harel Group-backed Ecoppia, which provides solar-panel cleaning systems.

Real estate manager and developer CIM Group invested $40m in Ecoppia, an Israel-based solar robotics technology provider backed by insurer Harel Group Insurance and Finance, yesterday.

Ecoppia produces robotics and automation technology for the solar power generation sector, helping ensure panels on utility-scale solar photovoltaic plants remain clean and absorb more sunlight.

The company’s customers include energy utilities Engie, EDF and Fortum, and asset and infrastructure managers Actis and Brookfield. It said it has provided its technology to some 10…

Robert Lavine

Robert Lavine is special features editor for Global Venturing.