An innovative, small footprint, vertical axis wind turbine for decentralized energy-production designed for urban areas, which is cheap to maintain and ensures energy production even at low wind speed

Project Information

URBAVENTO

Grant agreement ID: 692644

DOI

10.3030/692644

Project closed

EC signature date 26 August 2015

Start date 1 September 2015

End date 31 December 2015

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

NEWENERGY21 EUROPE LTD
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - URBAVENTO (An innovative, small footprint, vertical axis wind turbine for decentralized energy-production designed for urban areas, which is cheap to maintain and ensures energy production even at low wind speed)

Reporting period: 2015-09-01 to 2015-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

NE21 aims to increase the amount of private households and small scale energy producers, municipalities and local administrations across the European Union able to use small-wind turbines to supply their energy, making them as an equally viable and cost-effective solution as solar and photovoltaic panels. By the increasing amount of installed wind power across the EU, UrbaVento will contribute to the implementation of smart grids along with making a significant contribution to lowering dependency on traditional means of energy generation and subsequent emissions produced.

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 Phase 1 Feasibility Study has allowed NE21 to enhance their knowledge of the existing technologies and competition, the existing small wind turbine regulations and standards, as well as to establish the certification plan. NE21 also analysed planning and installation requirements for small wind turbines and together with the project partner prepared the installation plan and guidelines. In addition, NE21 prepared the industrialization plan and secured the manufacturer for the turbine wings manufacturing and the turbine assembly. Within the Feasibility Study, a detailed assessment of the market size, customer segments and competitors was carried out. NE21 carried out a particularly focused analysis of the small wind turbine potential in the UK and established a viable business model for the UK and Europe.
The Feasibility Study also showed that the UrbaVento turbine will have a rapid market penetration and will reach a BEP in the second year. NE21’s asset light business model avoids massive capital investment and enables the rapid scale-up of UrbaVento’s manufacturing and distribution. But to achieve NE21 desired goal and become the leaders in small wind turbines, the technology must be optimised for reductions in costs of materials, efficiency and the aesthetic delivery.

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)

UrbaVento innovation business project aims to significantly contribute to competitive, secure and sustainable energy principles, thus fulfilling today’s need for green, cheap and reliable energy generation solutions. The expected outcome of the project is a high efficiency and pleasant design turbine tested, qualified and certified in a wind tunnel and a large-scale international pilot test (at least 15 installations) in the operational environment. The UrbaVento turbine will have a capacity to work efficiency even at low wind speed (2.7m/s) without creating additional noise in the surrounding area. The final outcome of the project is to start the full commercialization of the UrbaVento turbine in Europe.

UrbaVento on a ship

UrbaVento 2 blades model