Tanya Weaver Fri 20 Dec 2024
Collected at: https://eandt.theiet.org/2024/12/20/edinburgh-airport-capture-turbulent-low-level-wind-energy-its-airfield-new-wind-panel
Edinburgh Airport has partnered with Scottish clean tech company Katrick Technologies to help it generate renewable energy at its airfield.
The airport aims to meet 55% of its annual electricity demand through on-site green technologies by 2028. In 2023, it installed a 10MW photovoltaic solar farm on site together with a 1.5MW battery pack with the aim of this technology providing up to 26% of the airport’s annual energy needs.
However, a mid-2024 analysis conducted by Edinburgh Airport revealed a significant rise in its average daily energy demand, increasing from 68.49MWh to 83.70MWh, largely driven by the growing use of electric vehicles and fixed electrical ground power for aircraft.
The airport then partnered with Katrick Technologies to evaluate the potential of ground-level wind energy as a complementary source of renewable energy.
Ground-level wind is an untapped resource for energy generation as it is highly turbulent. Katrick Technologies has developed wind panel prototypes to capture this wind energy.
These panels – which are smaller than traditional wind turbines, making them suitable for airport estates – consist of numerous channelling ducts where multi-layered patented aerofoils are located.
These aerofoils work independently from one other to maximise energy capture and convert this energy into mechanical oscillations. From here, the oscillations are converted to a focal point before conversion to energy.
The panels are more effective at capturing kinetic energy from ground-level winds than conventional wind turbines, while measuring just 2m x 2m and thus demanding a much smaller footprint.
Katrick Technologies is being supported by global technology and services supplier Bosch, which will help to industrialise and manufacture the prototype wind panels.
One of many sensors placed at Edinburgh Airport by Katrick Technologies to determine wind energy and flowKatrick Technologies
An 18-month trial is currently underway to identify areas of untapped wind energy at the airport. The results will help determine where best to position the panels.
When first introduced the prototype model will be in an area easily visible to passengers so members of the public can see the technology in action.
Danny Quinn, chief technical officer at Edinburgh Airport, said: “At the airport we are always exploring innovative new ideas when it comes to the generation of green energy, and we’re really excited about the potential this technology has.
“As we make progress on our sustainability strategy it is important we work closely with other Scottish businesses, and this collaboration with Katrick Technologies shows Scotland is at the forefront of developing innovative solutions to the creation of green energy.”
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