Edinburgh-based Swift TG Energy (Scotland) has secured a £420,000 grant to
further develop its innovative new vertical axis wind turbine – the
WindSurf.
The Innovate UK grant will be used to help complete the research and
development stage of the project, and finalise the manufacture of two
full-scale prototype turbines.
Swift TG Energy (Scotland) is a home-grown technology company focussing on
renewable energies. The Windsurf turbine – which has been described as
‘the next generation of urban wind power technology’ – aims to overcome a
number of the technical and economic challenges that arise when generating
power from the complex airflows found in urban and brownfield spaces.
With this turbine, Swift aims to pave the way forward for more localised,
urban wind power generation.
The project will be delivered in collaboration with Edinburgh University –
which has also received funding from EPSRC for this project – and Autarke UK.
The university’s Institute for Energy Systems will be working in
collaboration with Swift on the electrical design elements whilst Autarke
UK will be assisting with the ongoing commercialisation of the turbine and
the development of future sales prospects, initially in Europe but
ultimately on a global stage.
During the initial stages of the project, Swift will also complete the
renovation of a near-derelict industrial unit in the Granton area of
Edinburgh. This will be used as a manufacturing base, complementing the
existing design office in the city.
The whole team are based in the Edinburgh area and hope that the future
growth of the business will contribute to renewables technology innovation
in Scotland.
Project Leader Sam Dickinson said: “We have been working on this
development as an internal technology demonstrator for some years but this
award means that we now have the capacity to move the project forward.
“The Innovate UK grant is a key building block in our plans to bring this
to a wider audience. Innovate UK is well established in working with
companies and partnerships across the UK trade and investment community, as
well as academia, and tapping into this network is the logical next step.
“The Windsurf is a truly innovative design, developed using cutting edge
technology from the outset and we will now have the means to demonstrate
how this can contribute to delivering clean energy for the future.
“We are currently working through the research and development stage, but
the medium-term plan has already highlighted the need to establish a more
extensive manufacturing facility and build the associated supply chain. It
is my goal that we will continue to grow this business in Scotland.”
The UK and Scottish governments have both committed to generating
increasing percentages of their electricity demand from renewable sources
in the coming years. Swift TG Energy (Scotland) hopes to put its name, and
Edinburgh, firmly on the map for the supply of urban turbines in the future
to help meet this target.
Swift TG Energy (Scotland) is part of the Swift Technology Group, a wholly
British technology company working within renewables, oil, gas and aviation
sectors.
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