Eneus Energy will run a pilot trial of an innovative, advanced engine combustion control technology which is significantly more efficient, and less polluting than existing compression ignition engines. The control technology allows converted engines to be run on lower carbon fuels and blends - including natural gas with diesel or biodiesel. This will improve fuel security and affordability, and reduce fuel consumption. It will also improve emissions and enable fuel flexibility/substitution with lower carbon fuels where they are available. The pilot project is designed to demonstrate and verify the operation and benefits of this technology. To do so, we will take a ‘standard’ diesel powered genset from Cummins, a global OEM, which is widely used in small scale power generation units all over the world. This engine will be installed at an independent research facility in the UK where it’s operating characteristics will be established under simulated conditions. It will then be converted to the new technology, thus giving us comprehensive, independently verified data to demonstrate the benefits of this technology over existing combustion and emissions control systems, and its potential use in helping reduce the costs and environmental impact of such power generators in UK, EU/Global markets, including sub-Saharan Africa

The project will develop sensing capability for coatings being developed for erosion on wind turbine blades, and for similar applications in aviation. Focus will be on the development of sensors for the helicopter rain erosion test, ASTM G73, for continuous measurement of strain and changes in thickness, for better correlation between coatings, test rigs and the real blade environment, for development of better coatings, and for reducing testing time and costs. The sensing technology if successful will have great beneficial impact on the Wind Energy industry. In the short term, it will contribute to the improvement of accelerated rain erosion test method for turbine blades. In the long term, however, the technology is likely to facilitate the development of improved erosion-resistant coatings.

Wind turbine blade leading edge erosion is an important issue for the wind energy industry. Energy Technology Centre and the National Physical Laboratory are undertaking a feasibility study to investigate the use of state of the art measurement techniques to measure the real-time erosion of test samples in a rain erosion test rig. A candidate technique will be selected and trialled on an operational rain erosion test rig at Energy Technology Centre for evaluation and demonstration. If successful, the measurement technique will be used in testing, research and development, supporting the accelerated technology development of blade leading edge erosion protection systems, leading to improved efficiency, reliability and maintainability of wind turbines..