R&D to develop spray application using a bespoke drone to improve the operating efficacy of wind turbine technology

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Title
R&D to develop spray application using a bespoke drone to improve the operating efficacy of wind turbine technology

CoPED ID
86fcba3b-923a-4572-9a13-7652d11863f0

Status
Active


Value
£699,500

Start Date
Feb. 1, 2022

End Date
July 30, 2023

Description

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Aspira is a technology company developing revolutionary ways of treating tall structures, such as wind turbines, with specialist coatings via a bespoke Drone, already approved by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to fly and spray in close proximity to buildings/structures. This project will allow Aspira's bespoke drone to remove salts/detritus from wind turbines, improving their efficiency(<8%), and extending component lifespan(<12%). Expert studies quantify the potential benefit per turbine at $24k p.a. This is a revolutionary "blue ocean" market opportunity with many potential applications beyond those mentioned.

Aspira´s mission supports the UN SDGs (7/13), the EU Green Deal (clean affordable energy) and the UK´s 2050 net zero agenda and commitment by improving the utilisation of green energy from wind turbines.

Aspira's Green Agenda Coatings:

1\. Coatings that maximise efficacy and reduce downtime for wind turbines by removing salt and detritus.

2\. Carbon reduction Coatings that reduce moisture and the subsequent cooling effect they have on a building, resulting in less energy required to heat, reducing it's carbon footprint.

3\. Coatings that reduce NOx, SOx and Particulate Matter - working on a similar basis to a catalytic converter: Evidence from a 5 year study in Manila showed 5000m2 of treated surface will offset the annual emissions of 450 Euro 6 diesel cars.

Applied via Aspira´s bespoke drone offers superior performance, speed (10x), accuracy and safety over traditional methods. The coatings themselves are not radical or new, the restriction to date has been the prohibitive cost of application using traditional methods.

Aspira´s system and heavy lift spray drone has a unique capability of spraying both horizontally (forwards) and downwards, using both ground fed and onboard spray systems.

Key objectives of the project are:

* Progress our Technology Readiness Levels(TRL) from our current stage(6) to full scale development(9) through identifiable steps
* Further develop the anti-collision technology to minimise risks associated with flying in close proximity to structures.
* Establish and trial robust operating procedures to enable specific coatings to be effectively and safely sprayed using our drone.
* Maintain regulatory authorisation for enhanced spray operations ,complying with UK and EU requirements.
* Further develop an effective spraying system to apply the coatings required.
* Trial at proposed sites with partners.
* Understand and address any environmental impact, both positive and negative(if applicable).

We have developed our technology through to proven concept. This project will refine the flight and spray technology and specifically focus on the challenge presented by wind turbines.

Subjects by relevance
  1. Wind energy
  2. Emissions
  3. Turbines
  4. Spraying
  5. Renewable energy sources
  6. Aviation technology
  7. Technology companies
  8. Decrease (active)
  9. Surfacings (matter)

Extracted key phrases
  1. Heavy lift spray drone
  2. Wind turbine technology
  3. Aspira´s bespoke drone
  4. Spray system
  5. Enhanced spray operation
  6. R&d
  7. Bespoke Drone
  8. Carbon reduction coating
  9. Potential application
  10. Technology company
  11. Specialist coating
  12. Specific coating
  13. Collision technology
  14. Trial robust operating procedure
  15. Operating efficacy

Related Pages

UKRI project entry

No UK locations linked to this project.