Stand-alone power supply saving low-speed fluid energy available around us

Project Information

Free power supply

Grant agreement ID: 663108

DOI

10.3030/663108

Project closed

EC signature date 11 February 2015

Start date 1 December 2014

End date 30 April 2015

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

SAVE INNOVATIONS
France

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Free power supply (Stand-alone power supply saving low-speed fluid energy available around us)

Reporting period: 2014-12-01 to 2015-04-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Save Innovations has developed an innovative pico-turbine solution able to produce low-voltage power from low-speed flows of water. It relies on its proprietary and multi-patented no-friction technology and its specifically developed know-how. In particular, it is able to supply renewable power to the stand-alone in-line control equipment of the water supply networks, called “Smart Water”, which aims at increasing the water distribution efficiency and limiting the non-revenue water. The solution produces directly on site the right amount of electricity needed by the equipment. It then reduces drastically the carbon footprint. It avoids power distribution infrastructure investments and their inevitable power losses which are totally oversized, given the few watts needed in numerous scattered and remote places. The solution also avoids the intermittence and the related uncertainty of all other renewable power solutions, as well the cost and environmental impact of the usual on-site exchange of batteries.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The feasibility study carried out in the “Free power supply” project lasted 5 months. It assessed the Smart Water market attractiveness and dynamics, as well as the business interest of the proposed solution, referring to selected international information sources.
It then checked the technical feasibility of a suitable range of pico-turbines to cover the power needs of the water utility control equipment in most actual installations and work configurations. It also recommended the right product portfolio which will suit the water utilities’ needs while requiring the minimum development investment and production costs, thanks to a similar modular design and the use of common serial production tools and processes.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The study concludes positively and recommends the most appropriate technical alternatives which should deliver the best customer benefits while generating a sound return to the required project investments.

Turbine 3D