Galvanize Leads $70 Million Financing for AMP's AI-Powered Waste Infrastructure

AMP Robotics Corporation has secured $70 million in project debt financing led by Galvanize Climate Solutions to expand its AI-powered waste processing infrastructure in Portsmouth, Virginia. This initiative marks the next phase of AMP's 20-year collaboration with the Southeastern Public Service Authority (SPSA).

The funding will facilitate the construction of a new municipal solid waste sortation facility and an organics processing system. The infrastructure aims to process over 500,000 tons of municipal solid waste annually, diverting at least half from landfills.

AMP's existing Portsmouth facility has demonstrated the effectiveness of its AI-based sorting technology at a commercial scale, which supported the long-term agreement with SPSA. This operational success underpins the next stage of development.

Mary Macpherson, Senior Vice President of Finance at AMP, stated that the financing illustrates the viability of pairing their technology with long-term capital to expedite deployment.

Unlike traditional recycling systems, AMP's technology sorts raw municipal solid waste, including materials in sealed trash bags, using AI-powered cameras, robotics, and pneumatic jets to recover plastics, metals, fiber, and organic materials. AMP operates three full-scale facilities and has deployed over 400 AI systems globally.

The second sortation facility in Portsmouth is expected to begin operations in early 2028, recovering recyclable materials and organics from municipal waste. An adjacent facility will convert recovered organic material into biochar, a material designed to store carbon long-term.

The biochar will initially be used as daily landfill cover to filter leachate, reduce odors, and limit methane emissions. AMP is also exploring its use in construction and cement. Biochar production will generate carbon removal credits, supporting AMP's agreement with Google to remove 200,000 metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2030.

For Galvanize, this transaction is an infrastructure financing opportunity that combines an operational technology platform with contracted municipal demand and a long-term development program. Suresh Vasan, Partner at Galvanize, highlighted the economic and environmental benefits of AMP's technology.

AMP and SPSA's partnership ensures that 20% of SPSA’s waste is recycled, doubling the region's highest recycling rate. At least half of the waste delivered to AMP’s facilities is expected to be diverted from landfills.

The infrastructure is projected to extend the life of SPSA’s Regional Landfill into the next century and reduce long-term waste management costs for approximately 1.2 million residents across eight member communities.

The Portsmouth development serves as a model for AMP to apply to other municipal waste systems, combining automated sorting technology, long-term waste supply agreements, and project financing. This approach allows AMP to develop and operate larger waste infrastructure projects backed by contracted volumes.

Macpherson noted that the Galvanize financing demonstrates the potential for AI-powered waste sorting to be financed as infrastructure, paving the way for replication with other communities and waste operators.

Clean Energy Counsel LLP provided legal counsel to AMP, while Sidley Austin LLP represented Galvanize.