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Remarkably energy-efficient, Lontra’s Blade Compressor™ can save up to 35 per cent of the energy normally required by compressors, all without using costly variable speed drives. Lontra’s new design can vary the inlet and exhaust ports to change the compressor load, without changing the shaft or motor speed.
Based on predicted performance, this compressor could deliver CO2 savings of 4,000 tonnes a year if it only captured one hundredth of the existing compressor market. Now building and testing prototypes, Lontra has started to approach equipment manufacturers and commercial partners.
The Carbon Trust’s Garry Staunton commented:
“Most manufacturers depend on compressed air as a source of energy – it’s often referred to as the ‘fourth utility’ after gas, electricity and water. However, we know that 30 per cent of the energy used to compress air is lost through leaks, making innovations like Lontra’s compressor vital if UK’s industry is to become more energy efficient.
“Grants are a key part of the Carbon Trust’s work in encouraging low carbon innovation: through the Applied Research programme we’re backing technology that we think has huge carbon-saving potential, but which requires a further boost before it becomes a commercial reality. Our aim is to support the best emerging low carbon thinking, and bring the worlds of science and business closer together by converting theory into potential profit.”
Simon Hombersley, Business Development Director, Lontra, said:
“This project is the last development phase before we commercialise this energy efficient technology, and it’s an exciting time for the company. We’re grateful for the support of the Carbon Trust as we build practical prototypes to demonstrate the advantages of the design identified in the previous extensive theoretical modelling phases.”
The Applied Research grant scheme is a flagship initiative run by the Carbon Trust to encourage further new business development of low carbon technologies. The grants support projects up to the value of £250,000, with a central condition of financing being that each entrepreneur must be able to attract 40 per cent match funding. Since the scheme began in 2001, the Carbon Trust has committed more than £13m to the programme, in the process attracting more than £21m of other investment into Applied Research projects.
The next call for proposals opens on 12 February with a final submission date of 12 April 2007. Any organisation interested in Applied Research grant funding can apply online at www.carbontrust.co.uk/technology/appliedresearch.
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