A new consortium has been formed to support the deployment of renewable technologies that can use previously unused electricity to produce carbon-neutral energy. The Scottish Wind Energy Consortium between Katrick Technologies, AGS Airport Limited (AGS) and the University of Strathclyde will make the transition to clean energy faster by using low-level wind energy.

The newly formed Wind Energy Alliance will witness the development and deployment of new wind energy technologies created by Katrick Technologies and supported by AGS and the University of Strathclyde. This will involve the installation of dual-purpose wind panels and sound barriers from Katrick Technologies, which can generate carbon-neutral energy from the ground and low-level wind

AGS includes Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports and has long been committed to reducing carbon emissions. In 2020, the group achieved carbon neutrality and launched a sustainable development strategy earlier this year, promising to achieve net zero emissions by the mid-2030s.

Strathclyde University has an impressive green certificate. The university’s sustainability team has developed a bold climate-neutral zone vision that will use renewable technologies in facilities in central Scotland. The team is already helping to deliver the university's first carbon neutral building.

Among the alumni of the University of Strathclyde is Karthik Velayutham, founder and co-CEO of Katrick Technologies. Velayutham is a successful renewable engineer and holds four renewable technology patents. He founded Katrick Technologies in 2016 as a green energy start-up company with the support of co-CEO Vijay Madlani to bring these technologies to the market.

One of the core technologies of the alliance is Katrick Technologies' dual-purpose wind panels and sound barriers, which can generate carbon-neutral energy from the ground and low-altitude wind. These energy-harvesting wind panels are designed to solve the decarbonization challenges faced by airports and highways-unlike traditional wind turbines, they can capture wind without requiring high altitude or scale.

As part of the consortium, Katrick Technologies' wind harvesting system will be installed on the land of the University of Strathclyde and Glasgow Airport. Preliminary wind mapping on these sites will initiate a phased approach to wind panel development. The ultimate goal is to roll out this technology to support the net zero goals of the two real estates and bring it to the wider market.

Vijay Madlani, co-CEO of Katrick Technologies explained: "Katrick Technologies and the University of Strathclyde have just received funding from the Energy Technology Partnership (ETP) for collaborative research and development projects for wind panels and noise barrier technologies." "This is The first step to provide a catalyst for development by attracting large amounts of capital and investment opportunities. This will not only support the development of our own technology, but also help the group realize its shared vision by releasing unused wind energy."

“Working with technical experts and embracing innovation is essential for AGS to achieve its decarbonization goals,” explained Derek Provins, CEO of AGS Airports. "Renewable technologies have the potential to power a large number of field devices, offset energy costs and reduce the need for carbon-based energy supplies. In addition to supporting our transition to zero net worth, these wind power panels may also help us manage airport-related noise. Impact, we know this is an important issue for the communities we serve. Managing this is an integral part of how we develop our airports responsibly, and these panels can also serve as noise barriers for our airports.”

Roddy Yar, Executive Director of Sustainable Development at Strathclyde University, said: "As a socially progressive university, we are very ambitious to achieve net zero and we are very happy to support this project.

"Katrick's clean technology is a good example of innovation. It can help us create a series of'living laboratories' to demonstrate and realize the transition to scalar greenhouse gas reduction."

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The University of Strathclyde is a charity, registered in Scotland, number SC015263.