Funding for New Wind Turbine Design

An innovative new wind turbine design featuring a pair of angled wings in the shape of a ‘V’ may become part of the UK’s electricity supply in the future.

A firm of energy specialists, OTM Consulting, is at the forefront of Project Nova – standing for Novel Offshore Vertical Axis – the aim of which is to have the new-design turbine up and running - and generating one gigawatt of power - within 11 years. Three universities are also participating - Cranfield, Strathclyde and Sheffield.

According to OTM Consulting, the turbine design, compared to traditional shapes, offers superior stability, durability and is easier to maintain.

Energy Technologies Institute

The newly-formed ETI (Energy Technologies Institute) has, so far, injected funds into a limited number of new ventures and this new turbine design – Project Nova – is one of them.

The ETI’s purpose is to identity new, environmentally friendly projects that could aid the UK in hitting climate and energy targets. The ETI was established as a public/ private body and, in terms of available funding, could draw on over £1 billion.

Six companies are involved in the ETI including EDF Energy, Shell and BP, and the government is now seeking to boost this number to eleven.

Aside from Project Nova, three other new ventures have also attracted ETI funding, as detailed in an announcement made by Lord Drayson, the Minister of State for Science.

Wind Turbine Development

The other projects are all connected to wind turbine development, as detailed further below:

- An assessment into how practical a deep water-based, floating wind turbine capable of generating five megawatts would be

- An assessment of the present generation of wind turbines in terms of their reliability

- Lastly, a project involving the installation and trial of a new one megawatt tidal and wave turbine

The combined funding allocated to these four exceeds the £20 million mark.

The government has pledged to reduce CO2 output to 80 per cent below what it was in 1990 – a commitment it has said will be fulfilled by 2050. It is possible also that a mid-term update will take place, whereby a target of 34 per cent under the 1990 figure by 2020 will be set.

Aside from OTM Consulting, a number of other parties are involved in Project Nova including SME Wind Power, CEFAS (the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science) and, at sub-contractor level, defence firm QinetiQ.

Environmental News will provide further coverage of Project Nova and/ or the other projects mentioned in this News Item as future facts emerge.

Offshore Aerogenerator concept image by Grimshaw Architects
Image WPL/ Grimshaw 2008
Image provided by OTM Consulting