Innovating wind power

Southampton Science Park company Ilika has partnered with Titan Wind Energy, the largest manufacturer of wind turbine products in China.

The partnership will see the company deploy its Stereax solid state battery powered devices for the condition monitoring of wind turbines. The smart composite will be able to perform autonomous structural condition monitoring of the blades to detect the early signs of damage and enable predictability in maintenance scheduling and prevent icing of the blades. This will ensure operational efficiency, whilst also self-sustaining the power supply of these functionalities without the need for battery replacement.

Ilika’s Stereax technology is the first solid state battery designed for the specific needs of the Internet of Things (IoT) space. It offers compelling advantages over conventional lithium ion batteries, including: a smaller footprint, faster charging, longer lifespan, low leakage and reduced flammability.

Combined, the UK and China contribute around 40% of the world's 500 GW wind power capacity. However, increasing operation and maintenance costs in wind turbines have become a critical constraint for the sustainability and growth of wind energy, a leading alternative to fossil fuels.

Graeme Purdy, Ilika CEO, said; "This partnership is expected to bring about a step change reduction in the operating costs of wind turbines, which is of paramount importance in sustaining the economic viability of wind energy. In China, growth of industrial applications for IoT solutions such as this one, is outstripping consumer IoT. We are delighted to be working with our esteemed Chinese collaborators and look forward to a long and rewarding partnership.”

Ilika is further investing in business development in China with the appointment of Lu Ming, who will have responsibility for driving future collaborations and commercial partnerships there.