Rugged Long-lasting Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine for Extreme Wind Conditions

Project Information

NJORD

Grant agreement ID: 744239

DOI

10.3030/744239

Project closed

EC signature date 23 November 2016

Start date 1 November 2016

End date 28 February 2017

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

ICEWIND EHF
Iceland

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - NJORD (Rugged Long-lasting Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine for Extreme Wind Conditions)

Reporting period: 2016-11-01 to 2017-02-28

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

IceWind is an engineering company specialized in the design & manufacturing of wind and solar-based technologies for small-scale energy consumers. Our NJORD turbine concept was born as a disruptive vertical-axis wind turbine (TRL7) suitable to withstand the most extreme weather conditions that Iceland and other countries face. NJORD turbines are cost-effective (0.21€/kWh average cost of electricity produced) of unique patented blade design and maintenance-free. They spin silently (<35dB), non-stop over a wide production range (0.5-60m/s) and at conditions like icing. Our customers will benefit from cost savings in the price of energy, especially the residential sector (IRR of 30% and payback time <3 years) and the telecom industry will obtain reductions of <70% of their operational costs. The overall aim of the project is to take Njord’s technology to market launch.

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

Work executed from November 2016 to February 2017, has been completed to cover the tasks below:
Task 1: Preparation of the technical plan for the NJORD project to set the activities to be done in Ph2 and the resources required to commercialize the turbines.
Task 2: A thorough research of NJORD target markets, analysis of competing solutions, risk assessment, study of the supply chain and IPR analysis.
Task 3: A financial assessment of NJORD and a forecast of sales and benefits until 2024.
Task 4: A business plan, marketing strategy, business projections and a SWOT analysis.

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)

Countries facing extreme weather conditions are characterized by strong and unsteady winds that make traditional wind turbines (horizontal-axis) to spin out of control, provoking accidents and costly maintenance. They need, thus, self-efficient, high reliable and robust wind turbines like NJORD. We offer a unique and disruptive small vertical axis turbine capable of producing energy in those extreme conditions in residential areas and telecom towers. When commercialized, NJORD turbines will produce cost-effective energy and of a great durability (30-year lifetime) facilitating the Nordic countries will the transition from fossil fuels to low- or zero-carbon energy sources by 2050 and their long-term energy targets (establishing interconnected grids and a common liberalized power market). With this project, IceWind will create in the mid-term over 225 skilled jobs for manufacturing locally, reducing the dependence on fossil fuels (energy security) with a 100% green energy source and only produce 26kg CO2 equiv./year emissions.

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