Turbo Power Systems wins £6m for solar idea
Aug 25 2010 by Karen Dent, The Journal
AN innovative business specialising in the design and manufacture of power electronics and electrical equipment has won over £6m in funding to look at charging electric cars via solar power.
Turbo Power Systems (TPS), which employs 85 people at its power electronics division in Gateshead and has 30 staff at its electric motors site at Heathrow, has received a raft of research and development (R&D) investment.
It includes a company-wide £6.5m from TAO Sustainable Power Solutions, part of a Brazilian energy company, £72,000 from One North East and support from Tyne and Wear Development Company to focus on renewable energy research.
The regional funding will be used to look at the potential of connecting energy from photovoltaic (PV) cells to charge electric vehicles. The team is exploring whether the PV cells could be installed in car parks where people could charge up electric vehicles.
Tony Lakin, head of R & D at TPS, said: “The electric vehicle market is a rapidly growing sector. This is an exciting project that will explore the potential for charging electric vehicles from a renewable energy source and we have the expertise and technology to achieve this.
“It’s great we’re doing it in the North East which has real potential to be a leader and pioneer in the electric and battery-powered vehicles sector. Being based in the North East means we have access to hugely talented workforce from our universities.
“We first entered the renewable energy market 15 years ago but there wasn’t the same interest in the UK as there is now.”
The £10.5m turnover business has also just signed a deal with US company Bombardier to supply auxiliary power conversion systems for the new flagship Innovia train and has also has understanding with a Japanese firm to supply power electronics products in Europe.
David Hancill, general manager at TPS Gateshead, said: “This investment is excellent news for TPS and will help to underpin future growth and the development of new technology.
“Crucially, it will help to boost our profile and opportunities around the world – particularly in the US and Canada where around 50% per cent of our business lies.”
“There are very few companies worldwide that can match what we offer. Supplying high performance electric motors and power conversion systems gives us a real advantage over our competitors. This investment and the work we have contracted with Bombardier and our Japanese partner are real reasons for optimism.”
TPS already works with clients including Boeing, Lotus Engineering and American giant McQuay, and receives ongoing business support from Tyne and Wear Development Company through its regional strategic account management programme, which was set up to help expanding local companies.
The company, which was set up in Gateshead as i-Power in 1976 and was bought by Turbo Genset in 2001, moved into a state-of-the art plant at Team Valley three years ago. The site produces equipment ranging from power conversion systems for charging mobile phones and computers on trains to drivers’ cab air conditioning systems on the London Underground.
Alma Harrison from Tyne and Wear Development Company said: “TPS is a great example of an ambitious company that is developing innovative market leading technology from its base here in the North East.”
