BMW Group trials bladeless wind energy unit

BMW Group has installed Aeromine Technologies’ bladeless wind energy unit at the MINI manufacturing plant in Oxford.

BMW Group’s Oxford Plant will serve as a testbed for this technology, assessing its potential to enhance energy efficiency across BMW Group sites around the world, as well as commercial buildings in the UK.

Aeromine Technologies has designed the wind energy unit, which is installed on the edge of a building, oriented towards the prevailing wind.

The unit features wing-like vertical airfoils that create a vacuum effect, drawing air behind an internal propeller to generate clean electricity.

The new wind energy unit is designed to complement MINI Plant Oxford’s existing solar arrays across the buildings on site. The solar panels generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 850 households for a year.

However, the solar panels are less effective during winter and evening hours, when wind conditions are often strongest – presenting an opportunity for Aeromine’s wind energy unit to step in and continue generating renewable energy.

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Claus Lønborg, managing director, Aeromine Technologies Inc., said in a release: “Aeromine’s partnership with BMW Group represents a pivotal step in our mission to innovate and expand the capabilities of renewable energy solutions.

"Our 'motionless' wind energy technology is designed to work seamlessly alongside solar systems, maximising the renewable energy output from rooftops while helping address challenges like noise, vibrations and wildlife impact. We’re excited to see how this initial installation can lead to broader applications across BMW’s global facilities.”

This new project is part of the BMW Startup Garage, a business unit dedicated to supporting early-stage startups working on cutting-edge technologies. It focuses on testing a functional product, at least in the form of a prototype, during a pilot project and commissioning the startup as a supplier at an early stage. Rather than acting as an investor through venture capital, the BMW Startup Garage is taking on the role of a customer, a “venture client”.

Carmen Gargioni, team lead innovation at BMW Group Real Estate Management, said: “BMW Group is always looking for innovative and efficient solutions in every aspect of the business. The BMW Startup Garage acts as a matchmaker between startups and different business units. New technologies are essential as we strive to find the most efficient solution to our requirements. This includes exciting innovations from new players.”