Smart grid: New developments on the horizon at Ampacimon thanks to a new round of financing
26.08.2020
Lead investor Korys as well as Noshaq, Creos and Gesval are all participating in this new round of financing for the Liège-based company. <br />
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Liège/Halle, 26 August 2020. Ten years after the company was founded, Ampacimon is starting a new chapter of its history with a capital increase of 4 million euros with Korys as lead investor, despite the very special times we are experiencing. Existing shareholders Gesval and Creos are also taking part in this financing round with a view to strengthening their historical link with Ampacimon. This transaction also marks the return of Noshaq who have been involved at the beginning of Ampacimon. Elia focuses on start-ups and has decided to exit as an investor but remains a major customer of Ampacimon.
Established in 2010, following research carried out since 2003 at the University of Liège, Ampacimon products monitor the capacity (“ampacity”) of high-voltage lines in real time by equipping the lines with autonomous and communicating sensors. The company's state-of-the-art software applications then enable customers to monitor in real time and forecast the use of their electricity networks. Typical applications include higher integration of renewables and grids interconnections.
Since 2015, after the previous capital increase, the company has been promoting its "Dynamic Line Rating" (DLR) solution to widen its footprint in more countries and with new grid operators. Ampacimon has been awarded contracts with most of the major utility companies worldwide, including Tennet (Netherlands) in Europe, Tepco (in Japan), HydroQuebec, APS and NYPA in North America, MSETCL in India, ENEL and ISA in South America, joining Elia (Belgium) and RTE (France) as first customers. As such, Ampacimon has the largest installed base of DLR systems in the world.
Five years later, this new capital increase will enable Ampacimon to further accelerate its growth through innovative projects to develop new monitoring solutions, in particular for distribution networks. To do this, Ampacimon continues to invest in numerous research projects in order to diversify its applications. Next to that, the company is also considering acquisition opportunities.
“Ampacimon fits perfectly in the investment strategy of Korys and we are impressed by their growth“, says Brieuc de Hults (Investment Director at Korys). “Besides our investments in renewable energies, we also want to support their integration in the energy network and as such participate in the energy transition. Renewable energy sources produce electricity intermittently and this means networks need to be more and more flexible and monitored in real time. The capacity of grids will also need to be increased, which will require significant investments. However, grids are often under-utilised for safety reasons. Ampacimon is able to increase their capacity (grid utilisation) WITHOUT major investments yet just by gathering more accurate data on grid utilisation and the condition of lines in real time.“
Gaëtan Servais (CEO of Noshaq) is delighted as well with Noshaq’s return to the capital of Ampacimon: “The area covered by Ampacimon is related to 2 of Noshaq’s 7 strategic sectors so it was important for us to be a partner in this capital increase. It shows our involvement in the energy transition and energy efficiency, leaning on digital and 4.0 technologies.”
Only ten years after its creation, Ampacimon has positioned itself as a company that offers monitoring solutions for power grids in the broadest sense of the term and throughout the world. Frédéric Vassort (CEO of Ampacimon) is also very satisfied with this new stage of growth and the involvement of new investors: “This will enable the team to offer innovative technological solutions to meet the network monitoring needs of our customers.”
Press Contact – Korys
Sabine DERAEVE – / tel: +32 496 22 20 18
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