Amstelveen,
25
September
2012
|
11:15
Europe/Amsterdam

KLM, Rabobank, Schiphol and Delft University of Technology invest in Airborne Wind Energy company Ampyx Power via the Mainport Innovation Fund

Summary

Ampyx Power, a leading company in the emerging Airborne Wind Energy industry, has secured investments from Mainport Innovation Fund and Dutch Greentech Fund. 

“It is very inspiring to see an aircraft that can generate renewable energy. Ampyx is a Dutch company with leading technology that generates renewable energy very efficiently from air flight. KLM, as a leading airline in sustainability, wants to stimulate such innovative developments on sustainability with her expertise and network”.
Erik Swelheim, Chief Financial Officer KLM and investment committee member of the Mainport Innovation Fund

Paradigm shift in electricity generation
Ampyx Power is developing a novel wind energy technology that will be capable of realizing a paradigm shift in the electricity generation sector. Its product, the PowerPlane®, is projected to generate electricity at cost levels competitive with fossil fuel alternatives at its initial commercial scale. Further system up-scaling to larger capacities will allow electricity generation at costs well below any other generation technology, especially if PowerPlanes® are deployed offshore. Ampyx will use the investment to finalize its pre-commercial PowerPlane® system and initiate commercialization of its technology.

Investment reflects the confidence of important partners
Richard Ruiterkamp, director and founder of Ampyx Power comments: “With the investment by Mainport Innovation Fund (MIF) and Dutch Greentech Fund (DGF), we have not only secured the funds required for accelerating our technology development, but more importantly, we have also expanded our stakeholder base with the fund investors, such as KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Schiphol Airport, Delft University of Technology, Rabobank and the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF). We are extremely proud of the confidence these parties have expressed in our company by making these investments available.”

Added value of network and expertise of DGF and MIF
Fund manager Guus Verhees adds: “Ampyx has achieved significant technological and commercial progress with limited funding, demonstrating the strength of the team. With our partners, who have an extensive network in aviation, expertise in renewable energy financing and strong advocating power, we aim to support Ampyx in the commercialization of their technology”.

Richard Holland, Chief Conservation Officer at WWF in the Netherlands and member of the DGF Sustainability Committee, states: “Ampyx has the potential to become cheaper than fossil fuel energy, while minimizing the impact on the environment. WWF believes it is important to support these developments toward a future with 100% renewable energy”.

Boilerplate

About KLM

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was founded in 1919, making it the world's oldest airline operating under its original name. In 2004, Air France and KLM merged to form AIR FRANCE KLM. The merger produced the strongest European airline group based on two powerful brands names and hubs —Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Paris Charles de Gaulle. The two airlines collaborate on three core activities while maintaining their own identities — passenger transport, cargo, transport, and aircraft maintenance.

In the Netherlands, KLM comprises the core of the KLM Group which further includes KLM cityhopper and transavia.com. KLM serves 135 destinations using a modern fleet of 157 aircraft and employs over 33,000 people around the world. KLM is a leader in the airline industry, which offers reliable operations and customer-oriented products resulting from its policy of enthusiasm and sustainable innovation.

KLM is a member of SkyTeam, an airline alliance offering a network of 926 destinations in more than 173 countries. The KLM network connects the Netherlands to every important economic region around the world and, as such, serves as a powerful driver for the Dutch economy.

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