Summary
- Profile Type
- Technology offer
- POD Reference
- TOIT20230323021
- Term of Validity
- 23 March 2023 - 22 March 2025
- Company's Country
- Italy
- Type of partnership
- Commercial agreement with technical assistance
- Targeted Countries
- All countries
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General information
- Short Summary
- An Italian SME developed a hydro micro-turbine specifically designed to exploit kinetic energy of waterways to turn into electric power. The turbine technology, whose features have been patented, is suitable for applications on rivers and canals. It allows to operate hydro power plants with near zero environmental impact, adaptability to the watercourse characteristics and high producibility. They are looking for partners to collaborate within Commercial agreement with technical assistance.
- Full Description
-
Thanks to the research activities carried out in collaboration with the University, an Italian SME has developed a hydro microturbine to exploit kinetic energy of waterways, whose innovative features have been patented. Currently the Italian SME is able to design and deliver SHP(Small Hydro Power)-sized hydroelectric plants thanks to its manufacturing capabilities, the microturbine technology and the experience that the company has gained over the years.
Depending on electric grid connection or not, two are the markets that can be addressed: where the electric grid does not reach and where the electricity power is guaranteed by the grid.
In the first case combining the benefits deriving from power generation and the communities or industrial equipment can leverage on the electricity they need without grid interconnection. In the second case the development of electricity generation through the full and comprehensive utilization of the power of watercourses allows to increase the share of green energy produced; energy which, if not exploited, would be lost. Moreover, where the grid is unreliable, it makes electric system more resilient. At the same time, each power plant investment possibility of using new technologies (renewable energy systems) for the off-grid storage, distribution and consumption of energy, local must pay itself off and operate competitively.
The potential customer are: large and small hydro power companies, utilities, water management consortia and local communities and municipalities.
Stage of development: Two turbines (one on river and on small canal) are already running. Other 6 turbines on different canals are under construction. Furthermore, to meet the specific needs of the hydroelectric market, the Italian SME has integrated the microturbine with a smart-grid to allow the remote management of gates of a water supply canal to hydroelectric plant reservoir.
Partners characteristics: The Italian SME is able to deliver turnkey project managing the whole asset life cycle from opportunity identification to plant hand over and following operation. However, for non-Italian activities, SME is looking for foreign partners who can carry out promotion and sales activities, plant installation and following operation, consisting of maintenance operations and customer assistance.
The foreign companies/organisations will be supported during their activities by the Italian company, that will carry out the plant design and the component construction, providing the partners with the necessary assistance to install and manage the plant itself.
The proposed collaboration type is Commercial agreement with technical assistance. - Advantages and Innovations
-
Advantages:
Adaptability. The technology allows the development of hydro-plants adaptable to almost all watercourses in their different shapes and sizes.
Producibility. Each plant can deliver from 1 to 200 kW. Several plants located in series along the watercourse allow to deliver hundreds of kW.
Near zero environmental impact. No civil works; no noise as turbines work under water; near full recyclability of materials and components; no impact on waterway fauna and plant life conservation; no water pollution.
Reliability and safety. Reliability and safety are ensured by an accurate implementation throughout the plant life cycle, from design, engineering, manufacturing, testing, delivery to site up to operation.
Innovations:
a) The turbine technology allows to fully exploit the residual hydraulic energy of a watercourse;
b) The turbine powertrain control system allows to efficiently transform the mechanical power thus produced into electrical energy for the grid;
c) The plant control system allows to remotely manage the plant through a cloud application in SaaS mode or through the customer's remote control system and to manage the plant safely. - Stage of Development
- Already on the market
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- IPR status
- IPR granted
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
-
For the specific area of activity and task described above we are looking for partners in the following geographical areas, with the exception of Italy:
• German area: Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Croatia;
• Western Europe area: France and Spain;
• North Europe area: Norway and Sweden;
• North America: Canada and USA;
• Sub-Saharan Africa: South Africa, Kenya and Angola
Specific area of activity of the Partners:
• Private-owned companies already have business relationships with our potential customers: large and small hydro power companies, utilities, water management consortia, local communities and municipalities;
• Private-owned companies that have procurement and construction capabilities that are in the position to perform hydroelectric plant turnkey projects. The capability to fabricate structural carpentry would also be appreciated;
• Private-owned companies that have the necessary skills and organization to guarantee the operation continuity of the hydro-plants providing scheduled maintenance services, spare parts and emergency interventions when necessary.
Tasks to be performed by the Partners:
• Commercialization Activities;
• Hydro-plant construction & commissioning;
• Operation Activities.
Not necessarily these capabilities and tasks must coincide in a single partner. For each geographical area there could be a company that deals with the commercialization activities, a second company that performs the hydro-plant procurement & construction tasks and a third company to perform operation activities. - Type and Size of Partner
- SME 11-49
- SME <=10
- SME 50 - 249
- Big company
- Type of partnership
- Commercial agreement with technical assistance
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 04002013 - Smart grids
- 04005002 - Hydropower
- Market keywords
- 06008 - Energy Storage
- 06002004 - Hydro-electric
- 09008001 - Electric companies
- Sector Groups Involved
- Renewable Energy
- Targeted countries
- All countries
