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January 25, 2006
Skysails = Ships + Air Filled Kite - Oil prices
An alternative energy startup of the unusual sort, Skysails, has raised Euro 8.5 mln from a shipping sector financier on the back of winning its first customer. SkySails, based in Hamburg, sells a towing kite filled with compressed air, as well as the accompanying software and hardware to optimize shipping routes with wind paths. The idea is that diesel-powered ships can use wind power to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and save costs. The four year old company is targeting merchant and passenger vessels, any of which it says can be equipped or retrofitted with the SkySails system.
It is not exactly high tech but we think it is interesting that it got this far. The high price of oil is turning into a boon for alt energy startups.
SkySails, based in Hamburg, the largest shipping port in Germany and eight busiest port in the world, hopes shipowners will use its gear to reduce fuel costs.
Read - Bremer Reederei Beluga Shipping GmbH kauft erstes SkySails-System (Innovations Report - in German)
Posted on January 25, 2006 02:57 PM | Posted to | Permalink
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