BMW Group in the UK has installed a “motionless” wind energy system at its MINI manufacturing plant in Oxford. The system, from Aeromine Technologies, harnesses wind power to produce clean energy without visible moving parts. The Oxford plant will serve as a testbed for the technology, assessing its potential for energy efficiencies across BMW Group sites globally, as well as commercial buildings in the UK.
The wind energy unit, which is installed on the edge of a building, is oriented towards the prevailing wind and features wing-like vertical airfoils that create a vacuum effect, drawing air behind an internal propeller to generate clean electricity. Unlike traditional wind turbines, Aeromine says its bladeless design minimises noise and vibrations, ensuring no disturbance to buildings or the surrounding environment and with minimal impact on birds. Additionally, the unit is constructed from durable, recyclable materials.
This energy project is part of the BMW Startup Garage, a business unit dedicated to supporting early-stage startups working on cutting-edge technologies. It focuses on testing a functional product, at least in the form of a prototype, during a pilot project and commissioning the startup as a supplier at an early stage. Rather than acting as an investor through venture capital, the BMW Startup Garage is taking on the role of a customer, a “venture client.”
Source: Motor Trader e-Magazine (September 2024)
26 September 2024