Groundbreaking Offshore Wind Turbine Scores Oceans 11 Hatrick
A new, award winning wind turbine has won funding from NStar's Three Pillars Fund and a research grant from One NorthEast to secure the next stage of its development.
The groundbreaking Aerogenerator is being engineered in the North East at NaREC in Blyth. It has the potential to help the UK meet its ambitious wind energy targets and has just won a low carbon technology prize from oil major Shell.
Unlike the ‘propeller on a stick' turbines we see today, the Aerogenerator has no tower and rotates around a ‘vertical axis' harnessing wind energy from any direction. It has been described as looking like a cross between a glider and giant harp.
Although it will work on-shore, the V-shaped rotor is designed for offshore use. Its design is intended to be capable of delivering GigaWatt strategies - the same power as a nuclear power station - at sea, reliably and economically.
The Three Pillars Fund investment will enable developers of Aerogenerator to step up research and development activities at NaREC to fully test small scale prototype technology ahead of full-scale development. NaREC will also act as a business partner, providing experience, support and technical expertise.
Theo Bird, director of Aerogenerator, said: "It's still early days for the project, but moving to the North East was one of the best project decisions we ever made. We are proud to be associated with the region and people of Blyth which is the project's home. This funding will help us to continue the development of Aerogenerator here in the North East.
"We are pleased to report that the region's rich engineering heritage is very much alive and well in the renewables sector. Our partner NaREC comprises a first class engineering team, excellent facilities and access to further support and expertise internationally through its network.
"We believe Aerogenerator can make a big impact. It's efficient and visually attractive. The technical innovations we've introduced make it more robust and stable, meaning we'll be able to build fewer, bigger turbines."
The Three Pillars Fund has been set up to bridge the investment gap for growing high-tech businesses in the region's three pillar sectors: energy; health & health sciences and process industries.
Dr Amanda McMurray from NStar said: "New and renewable energy could generate up to £2 billion for the regional economy through the development of cutting edge technology like the Aerogenerator. The funding available through Three Pillars is there to take ideas like this through the development stages to achieve commercial success."
Richard Marr, finance director at NaREC said: "Aerogenerator is an exciting and innovative project making a departure from standard wind energy technology to create new solutions for the offshore, onshore and built environments. As a centre of excellence for new and renewable energy we are well placed to help nurture innovative new energy technologies.
"We've been working closely with Theo and the team since the very early, pioneering stages of the project and are looking forward to taking things forward with the new funding. The fact that the Aerogenerator has also been acknowledged through the Shell Springboard awards as an innovative new low carbon solution is a testament to the potential of this technology. "
Aerogenerator secured a Research and Development Grant from regional development agency One NorthEast to support the project.
One NorthEast Senior R&D Finance Manager, Will Adams, said: "The energy sector is closely entwined with regional economic growth, through the development of a new generation of high-tech companies like Aerogenerator.
"This investment shows One NorthEast's commitment to these businesses in the region and it is great to be able to support the firm at such an important stage in its development."
James Smith, chairman of Shell UK said: "With the climate change market growing, these are serious opportunities for businesses that can help to tackle climate change. Shell Springboard aims to support firms whose ideas are both environmentally and commercially sound - and once again the finalists have proved there are great innovators out there who can make a valuable difference. They're an inspiration to other UK businesses."
For more information about the Three Pillars Fund, contact Dr Amanda McMurray, Fund Manager, on 0191 211 2324.
