BMW tries “motionless” wind tech on UK plant roof

German automaker BMW (ETR:BMW) on Wednesday said it has installed the UK’s first “motionless” wind energy system on the roof of its MINI factory in Oxford.

The company will test the bladeless technology of US firm Aeromine Technologies Inc, which is installed on the edge of a building towards the prevailing wind. The system has wing-like vertical airfoils that create a vacuum effect, drawing air behind an internal propeller to produce power, BMW explains.

The project is part of its BMW Startup Garage unit, which supports early-stage startups, acting as a “venture client,” rather than as an investor.

The “motionless” turbine will complement the Oxford plant’s existing solar arrays which produce less during winter and evenings, when winds are stronger.

“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,” said Claus Lonborg, managing director at Aeromine Technologies.

“This pilot is a small but exciting project for BMW Group and complements our existing approach to purchasing renewable electricity from the national grid. We’re looking forward to seeing its potential for generating clean wind energy at BMW Group sites,” commented Urs Sambale, project manager for sustainability steering at BMW Group Real Estate Europe.

Aeromine Technologies, whose systems are typically 50 kW, in May closed a USD-9-million (EUR 8.1m) funding round, led by Veriten.

(USD 1 = EUR 0.905)

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