Irish cleantech company Airsynergy has announced the launch of a suite of renewable energy and cost cutting products for the UK market, including small scale wind turbines with substantial generation capabilities.
The Total Energy Solution, or TES, is a 5kW generator using a multi-blade augmenter to concentrate and amplify any air it attracts from the inside out. This increases the speed of the wind flowing past the two-blade rotor, creating a large power output proportional to the size of system.
Speaking to Clean Energy News in Dublin, chief executive of Airsynergy Jim Smyth said: “[The TES] will do the same power at very low wind speeds as a 20kW turbine but at less cost for the same output even though it’s a 5kW generator.”
This patented technology allows the 10 metre turbine to cut in at much lower speeds, meaning it is capable of generating almost 20MWh of renewable energy on an annual basis from wind speeds of 5m/s.
The low cut-in wind speed of the system means it can also be deployed in areas otherwise unavailable to wind energy generation, with Airsynergy claiming it can be installed in 80% of global wind sites.
“Many areas remain unexplored when it comes to wind power. With the TES, we have completely revolutionised renewable energy generation and have tapped into the potential that wind power can provide – in any location. Our solution can help save the environment, minimise expenditure and safeguard our future,” Smyth added.
The TES is also virtually silent in operation despite being able to offer significantly higher levels of power output compared to standard turbines of the same size, lowering the cost of electricity as a result.
Clean Energy News recently visited an installation at the Republic of Ireland’s only theme park, Tayto Park. The TES has been in place for a month and Ray Coyle, founder of Largo Foods and Tayto Park, explained that if the current trial period is successful, the site could soon receive much more of its energy from these new solutions.
“They came to me around two years ago and I thought ‘okay let’s have one and we’ll see how it goes’ and if it does work out we’ll probably put 30 or 40 in next year dotted around the place,” he said.
The single unit at Tayto Park offers a payback period of just over four years and could soon be joined by many more as the site grows to include a conference area, extra rides and a 275-room hotel in the next few years.
Based on a 5m/s wind site, Airsynergy offers an average pay back period of under 7.5 years on the TES which the company says can deliver an estimated €0.10/£0.09 per unit of power with a five year warranty that the company is looking to increase to 20 over time.
“Drop-in solution” for remote power
In addition to the TES Airsynergy is also set to launch its Renewable Power Unit (RPU), a wind and solar powered drop-in solution for renewable energy. The hybrid streetlight system uses similar patented technology to increase the speed of the wind flowing past the blades and can generate up to 1.2MWh of energy annually under the right circumstances. This would require the system to have two 260W solar panels in addition to the 300W wind generator and battery storage unit at a 5m/s wind speed site with appropriate levels of solar isolation.
Unlike the TES, the RPU does not require any trenching or ducting for operation due to its off grid generation capabilities and in-built battery storage system. This reduces the cost of installation substantially and offers simple installation in a number of areas in addition to the low cost of power provided by the product.
Jim Smyth explained: “The RPU’s main advantage is for remote power, it doesn’t need trenching and ducting. If you’re looking after places with car parks and tarmac, for them the downtime and loss of business means it makes more sense for them to have a drop in solution with remote power.”
Clean Energy News visited an operational RPU at Wayside Celtic FC, where Brendan Mitchell from AECOM explained how the system was providing good levels of lighting to the area at night when the floodlights at the site are turned off.
“I think it’s a great product and it’s great what Airsynergy have been doing,” he said.
As well as in Ireland, Airsynergy has already installed RPUs in America, Granada and Europe and is looking to install more in the UK. With global electronics manufacturing services company Flextronics acting as the company’s international distributor, Airsynergy is expecting to ramp up production as high levels of orders come in.
“With our revolutionary RPU, we are providing a total lighting package – offering clean power to towns and cities that require reliable and renewable street lights that maintain safety and security,” Smyth added.
Cutting energy consumption by 50%
In addition to its renewable energy solutions, Airsynergy is also offering the Onesynergy PAVEL, an exhaust air cowl for commercial roofs that the company says can cut the energy consumption of an air extraction fan in half.
The product again uses similar technology to the TES and RPU but fits directly onto existing standard ductwork to achieve optimum airflow. The system gradually decelerates the air within the unit before diffusing it into the surrounding area. Its design means that the fan does not need to work as hard and without any moving parts itself, the PAVEL consequently reduces energy consumption.
This means that it can offer a return on investment in under two years unlike other HVAC systems and requires minimal maintenance.
