UK small wind turbine manufacturer, quietrevolution, has struck a deal with European energy company RWE Innogy, which will see its innovative compact wind turbine being sold in Germany for the first time.
quietrevolution is behind the qr5, a 5x3 metre turbine, which has been especially designed for generating power in built-up areas and can be installed either on buildings or as a stand-alone turbine. The company has sold 120
qr5 in the UK to date.
Under the deal, announced today,
RWE Innogy, the market-leading power
producer in Germany, is committed to sell up to 100 turbines in the German market by the end of 2011.
Two qr5 turbines have already been commissioned in Essen, Germany, and a further four turbines will be installed in the coming months, quietrevolution said in a statement today.
Maeve Hurley, ceo of quietrevolution, described the agreement as an "exciting step forward" for the London-based manufacturer.
"This represents a new stage in our growth and is a clear indication of the growing demand for renewable technologies," she said.
"We think the turbine will operate well in the German market and we have spoken to several interested potential clients which is very encouraging" commented Dr. Olaf Heil, director, Hydro Power and New Applications of RWE Innogy.
qr5 design and specifications
The qr5 has been
designed to be low noise, low vibration and safe when sited close to people. Manufactured and assembled in South Wales, it is geared to add visual appeal to its surroundings and, according to its makers, improves performance with increased wind turbulence. The company said another 40 qr5s are due to be installed over the next 12 months in the UK.
The product is suitable for a range of business and public sector buildings looking for on-site renewable energy solutions. It costs around £28,000 to £32,000 to have one turbine installed, with the cost decreasing for multiple installations.
On a good wind site the qr5 will generate up to 7,500 kilowatts an hour per year. This is equivalent to the electrical needs of a to a 10 to 15 man office using lights, computers, servers, printers, faxes and phones.
UK small wind market
quietrevolution is part of a growing small wind turbine sector in the UK, which has been boosted by renewable energy incentive the Feed-in Tariff. The scheme guarantees an inflation-linked income for on-site renewable energy projects under five megawatts in size for a period of up to 25 years.
According to RenewableUK, the UK small wind sector grew by 25 per cent between 2005 and 2009, with a total of 14,000 small wind system units deployed in that period.
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Related links:
www.quietrevolution.com
