RTDT Laboratories raises CHF 150,000 to optimise wind turbine fleet operation

ETH spin-off RTDT has raised a preliminary funding round for its hardware-software solution, Aerosense. This sensor system gathers aerodynamic, acoustic, and structural data from turbine blades, which is then analyzed using RTDT’s advanced methods to provide comprehensive aero-acoustic and structural assessments of wind turbines. These insights enable better turbine control, improved design, and more efficient maintenance, ultimately boosting the performance and profitability of both individual turbines and entire fleets.

The funding was provided by Venture Kick, an initiative for supporting startups that has supported 1,074 Swiss startup projects with CHF 80 million.

Wind turbines have the potential to be significantly more profitable than they are today, with improved turbine design, higher annual energy production, and increased reliability. However, to achieve this, a deep understanding of the aero-structural properties of a turbine is required. Existing monitoring technologies do not provide the necessary insights to make such information available at scale.

With the global push for renewable energy, the timing is extremely favourable for RTDT. The wind energy sector is growing quickly, with an expected annual growth of 13 %, reaching a market size of more than CHF 5 billion by 2031. RTDT is already partnering with major players like Siemens Gamesa, Suzlon, Enercon, and Eologix-Ping.

RTDT will employ the 150’000 CHF from Venture Kick to grow its team, improve its hardware design and manufacturing process, and expand its patent portfolio. 

The founding team—consisting of CEO Imad Abdallah, CSO Konstantinos Tatsis, and CCO Aris Mukherjee—brings deep expertise in wind energy, structural mechanics, monitoring, and Venture Capital. Imad Abdallah notably spent seven years as a lead engineer at Vestas, designing wind turbines.

“The support from Venture Kick has been instrumental in refining our business model, strategy and value proposition. In particular, the Kicker’s camps have been incredibly useful in detecting where our weaknesses lie and how to tackle them,” highlighted CCO Aris Mukherjee. “We are very happy to have won stage III and to receive further support from Venture Kick.”