Renewable Energy (RE) is a sustainable, clean way of energy generation and wind is the most
widely used technology. Although the need for wind RE is well known, there is opposition to
community installation due to visual aesthetics and noise. This has increased the drive to
offshore wind installations, raising issues like higher installation & maintenance costs, greater
transmission losses, radar interference.
However, there is significant opportunity for micro-wind generation (MWG) within
established domestic & commercial infrastructure of urban town and cities. The annual
deployed capacity from MWG systems rose by a record high of 65% (14.23MW) in 2010 (up
from the 8.62MW reported in 2009) and brought the UK’s total installed MWG capacity to
42.97MW. An installed MWG system capacity of 1.3GW is projected by 2020, generating
1.7TWh of renewable electricity annually and an estimated market size of £5.2 billion.
To maximise this opportunity, we have developed a proof of concept (PoC) prototype for a
low noise, high efficiency/availability, compact & modular vertical axis wind turbine unit that
can be easily integrated within urban structures in a low key, aesthetically pleasing fashion.
The units can be integrated in applications with guaranteed air flow such as air extraction
systems (commercial & domestic buildings) and motorway & rail track side installations; and
energy from this air flow that is normally wasted can then be recover. Also, the units have a
low start up speed and a high capability factor increasing its usability within urban
regions/structures, where minimal and unreliable air flow would prevent the use of
conventional turbines.
Following on from our PoC, the WindBox project will develop a pre-production prototype to
be deployed, trialled and approved for FiT in urban cities. Successful completion of the
project will generate a turnover of £34m by 2020 and directly create 200 jobs within our
organisation and supply chain.