~ Net-zero pioneers develop solutions to important global issues ~
Glasgow-based green energy pioneer Katrick Technologies has been noted for its unique approach to tackling key obstacles on the journey to net zero. With a new passive cooling system for energy intensive data centres and a ground-breaking wind power generation technology, Katrick Technologies is making its mark in the cleantech sphere as a key disruptor. Here, co-CEO of Katrick Technologies Vijay Madlani discusses how the company hopes to provide innovative new solutions to some of the world’s most pressing climate issues.
It is estimated that the world must halve its carbon emissions by 2050 to successful hit global net zero targets. To achieve this, decarbonisation technology and diversifying the energy mix is absolutely essential. Katrick Technologies is dedicated to developing zero-carbon solutions for a range of applications to address the growing need for clean technology.
Among the issues Katrick Technologies hopes to address is the energy cost of data centres. The amount of data in storage is expected to reach a staggering 200 zettabytes by 2025 — for perspective, one zettabyte is equivalent to one trillion gigabytes. Much of this is stored in dedicated data centres, which are an integral part of the global economy, storing vast amounts of important and often confidential information.
In the UK there are approximately 400-450 data centre facilities, and TechUK estimates they consume 6TWh annually to run, not including the 3-4TWh required for server rooms. This figure will only increase as the number of data centres rises, with a 2018 Nature study estimating that they will be responsible for 8,000 TWh of consumption by 2030.
One of the key areas of energy consumption is in data centre cooling. Cooling is important in keeping servers running and avoiding overheating or failure. This uses a significant amount of energy — 90 per cent of the air conditioning and air handling units used by the UK data centre market consume an estimated 26 to 41 per cent of the total energy.
To reduce energy consumption for data centre cooling, Katrick Technologies has developed an end-to-end solution to remove excess heat without the need for external power. The passive cooling system is a zero-carbon alternative to traditional cooling units which keeps centres at a constant ideal temperature and reduces energy consumption.
The passive cooling system uses a Thermal Vibration Bell (TVB). The TVB uses bi-fluids with different densities and expansion rates which, when heated, produce fluid vibrations which are captured by fins and transferred to mechanical vibrations. The fins then oscillate, dissipating excess heat in the environment and providing cool temperatures.
The novel technology was successfully trialled at iomart’s data centre in Glasgow from October 2021, where a 120kW capacity TVB system was installed. Results from the trial indicate that implementing Katrick’s TVB engine resulted in a reduction in energy consumption and carbon emissions from cooling of up to 70 per cent. The passive cooling system offers a straightforward and cost-effective solution to the growing energy usage levels of data centres while ensuring that data is stored in a safe and reliable platform.
Katrick Technologies has also developed an innovative new wind power generation technology to contribute to the diversification of the energy mix. Wind power is one of the fastest growing renewable technologies globally. In the UK alone, power generation from wind has increased by 715 per cent in the period between 2009 and 2020, with 75,610 gigawatt hours (GWh) produced from both onshore and offshore wind in 2020 — making up 24 per cent of total renewable and non-renewable electricity generation that year.
The growth of wind power is only expected to increase as the UK aims for carbon neutrality by 2050. The International Energy Agency’s Net Zero by 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector estimates that by 2050, 90 per cent of electricity will be generated from renewable sources, with 70 per cent of this consisting of solar and wind. Achieving this target will require more wind farms and turbines to be constructed both on and offshore.
Taking note of the energy generation potential of wind power, Katrick Technologies has developed a unique wind panel system which maximises the amount of energy captured while also addressing some of the shortcomings of traditional wind turbines. A single array of the panels could produce 22,000-kilowatt hours of electricity annually. To harness the kinetic energy of wind, the panels contain multi-layered aerofoils, which oscillate independently as wind passes through, resulting in pockets of energy which can then be converted into sustainable electricity.
A key benefit of the wind panels is their smaller size, which makes them easier to build and install and means that they can be fitted to existing structures, even within urban and residential environments. The size of the panels and configuration of the aerofoils also allows them to capture wind of all speeds and frequencies, including ground winds which are inaccessible to turbines.
The panels are also straightforward to install and easy to implement due to their modular design and smaller size. They are also lower in cost and require little maintenance, increasing their overall life cycle and offering another advantage over turbines. Their versatility provides potential for businesses and individual facilities to generate off-grid, profitable power — like microgeneration sites.
Katrick Technologies’ wind panels will offer cleaner, greener energy for both organisations and individuals with clear financial benefits. With energy prices increasing and the devastating impacts of pollution becoming clearer, this zero-carbon solution may be the answer to many of the challenges involved in rapidly increasing renewable energy.
Katrick Technologies is emerging as an innovator in cleantech, with exciting plans for the future of its technologies. The company is undergoing significant growth, and most of its 25 team members have joined the company since late 2020. BDO estimates that the company value increased from £15 million at the start of 2021 to £50 million by the end of the year. Featured in the 2022 PWC UK Net Zero Future50 report as a key disruptor, Katrick Technologies is an exciting name to watch in the cleantech sphere.
