http://www.rushlightawards.co.uk/index.php/em/event/action/view/frmEventID/1/frmPageID/22/ HONOUR
The following organisations were successful in the Rushlight Awards 2010, either winning an award or
being commended and shorlisted for their entry (see Press Releases for the specific results):
AFC Energy plc (http://www.afcenergy.com/) for their advanced alkaline fuel cell which, through their innovative fuel cell and stack design, together
with a novel laser-based process for mass manufacture, makes it suitable for the technology to be linked with underground
coal gasification so that it can be deployed on an industrial scale for the first time. (Winner)
Anyvan.com (http://www.anyvan.com/) is a delivery auction website that matches demand for deliveries, from single items to large consignments,
with spare capacity that is available. Transport providers bid on the consignment to be moved and the customer chooses the
one they want. Organisations bidding for listings are using spare capacity on return journeys or part loads, thereby reducing
the number of delivery trips on the roads. (Winner)
Arvia Technology and Magnox North (http://www.arviatechnology.com/) The nuclear energy industry produces quantities of highly radioactive oils and oily wastes that are so heavily
contaminated that they are defined as orphan wastes with no suitable disposal route. The oils are emulsified with an organic
surfactant and poured into a plastic tank over a non-porous, highly conducting, adsorbent, carbon-based material. The oils
are separated by adsorbtion and then destroyed, together with the organic surfactant, by anodic oxidation and the radioactivity
remains in the aqueous phase. (Winner)
B9 Coal (http://www.b9coal.com/) who are developing projects that combine coal gasification with alkaline fuel cells to produce utility scale
low carbon electricity from the world's abundant coal reserves. The coal gasification process produces a syngas which is then
cleaned up so that the CO2 is captured and the hydrogen fuels the integrated gasification fuel cell power station. (Commended)
Baxi (http://www.baxi.co.uk/) Ecogen is a micro-CHP unit that can generate 1KW of electricity and provide all the heating and hot water
needs of a typical household. It is a wall-hung boiler that uses a Free Piston Stirling Engine and through intelligent controls
it manages the flow temperature to match the property heat requirements. (Winner)
Biomatrix Water Technology.
(http://www.biomatrixwater.com/) Their Dynamic Media Active Island Reactor is an engineered floating island and underwater ecosystem that supports
complex biological treatment processes within an attractive feature in the aquatic landscape. It combines ecological
engineering with biofilm and traditional treatment processes in an energy efficient and low cost manner. (Winner)
Diverse
Energy (http://www.diverse-energy.com/) The PowerCube is a low-cost power solution for mobile phone communication towers in remote third world locations,
replacing diesel generators. An innovative ammonia cracker produces the hydrogen for the fuel cell with market leading efficiency
and in a compact design, which only produces what is needed to produce the required power at any given time. (Winner)
EarthEnergy (http://www.earthenergy.co.uk/) for their HeatPlant ground source heat pump system capable of delivering high temperature hot water and heating
in an easily replicable closed loop pump package suitable for large scale adoption in social housing. (Commended)
Ecocamel. (http://www.ecocamel.com/) have developed their InJet multi-venturi system which combines many venturis in a shower head for the first
time. This reduces the required water pressure to aerate the water and to deliver today's expected shower experience. This
can be developed further for pressure washer and window cleaning applications. (Winner)
EnerNOC (http://www.enernoc.com/) for DemandSMART which is a comprehensive demand response system that give businesses the opportunity to earn money
if they are willing to reduce non-essential energy usage during times of grid instability or peak demand. (Commended)
Geothermal
International (http://www.geothermalint.co.uk/) for their innovative combined ground and air source closed loop energy piles, open loop wells and dry air
coolers system at One New Change, next to St Paul's Cathedral. (Commended)
Glosfume (http://www.glosfume.com/) have developed a ceramic filter which can remove 96% of all PM10 and PM2.5 from
biomass wood-fired boilers. A number of micro porous tubes are vertically mounted within the filter housing. The exhaust gas
is drawn through the wall of the tubes and the sub-micron particles collect on the outer wall and are collected at a preset
time through a compressed air driven cleansing. (Winner)
IMC (http://www.imco.co.uk/) have developed the Compod standalone mobile building designed to be a flexible solution to
the treatment and processing of caterer's food waste at Imperial College into quality compost in a cost effective way. The
food waste is macerated and dewatered before being blended with wood pellets and loaded into an In Vessel Composter. The payback
is just 19 months for this facility which can be used in a variety of locations such as shopping centres, hospitals and stadia.
(Winner)
Intelligent Energy (http://www.intelligent-energy.com/) have integrated their proprietary Proton Exchange membrane fuel cell system into the London black cab in conjunction
with an electric battery to produce a zero emission vehicle with a driving range of 250 miles, a top speed of 95 mph, rapid
refuelling and no loss of passenger or luggage space. It could remove one third of the capital's particulate pollution and
2million tonnes of CO2 emissions. (Winner)
InterfaceFLOR (http://www.interfaceflor.eu/) for their Zelfo Technology. Cellulose Optimization Resource Efficient technology has been developed to up-cycle
cellulosic and ligno-cellulosic waste, without any chemical additives, to create Zelfo, a micro and nano-fibrillated fibre.
Waste such as old paper, wood chips, waste cotton, flax and jute can be processed to produce Zelfo using techniques used for
synthetic material production, dramatically reducing the amount of water and energy typically used in such processes. (Winner)
Keld
Energy(http://www.keldenergy.co.uk/) in association with the University of Manchester, have developed an advanced biomass CHP technology that addresses
the problems of tar fouling, low process thermo-electric efficiencies and poor fuel flexibility in a scalable form from as
small as 100KW up to many MW. It can be fed with a range of biomass fuels and process wastes. (Winner)
Larfarge
Readymix (http://www.lafarge-cement-uk.co.uk/) for Extensia which is a new concrete floor product that does not require steel to manage shrinkage, can be laid
in thinner and larger slabs due to the extra flexural strength and reduced shrinkage and has low oxygen permeability and water
porosity. (Commended)
Luethi Enterprises (http://www.silentwindturbine.com/) Silent Wind Turbine, is a vertical axis Savonius type design with a clever mechanical speed regulator that enables
it to operate in very high wind speeds, have a low start-up speed, is easy to install and maintain and is therefore ideal
for remote locations. It is manufactured using large plastic barrels that are used globally for transporting a wide range
of fluid materials, yet they are rarely reused and are resource intensive to recycle. (Winner)
Minesto.(http://www.minesto.com/) Deep Green is unique in its ability to extract cost-effectively electrical energy from slow water movements
in tidal sites. This is achieved through the movement of a kite through the water which increases the flow velocity into the
turbine tenfold. The kite moves on a spherical surface and has a wing span of 12m. The kite is tethered to the seabed and
the generated electricity runs down the tether along the seabed. (Winner)
ModCell (http://www.modcell.com/) for their prefabricated straw bale and hemp panel construction system. The innovative, offsite manufactured system
ensures speedy installation for large scale, low carbon buildings. The performance of ModCell and BaleHaus, the domestic building
equivalent, meet PassivHaus standards. (Commended)
MWH ByProduct Ltd (http://www.biproductrecovery.co.uk/) (formerly Biproduct Recovery) have developed a system that takes cement kiln
dust, which are fine-grained, highly alkaline materials from exhaust gases, and by-pass dust and recognises their significant
levels of calcium oxide, sulphur and soluble potash. They are diverted from hazardous landfill and instead used as a direct
substitute for virgin limestone by farmers to neutralise soil acidity. (Winner)
Oxford Catalysts (http://www.oxfordcatalysts.com/) use microchannel Fischer-Tropsch and steam methane reforming reactors with a highly active catalyst to produce
a high quality synthetic crude or gas-to-liquid product that can be handled through the existing industry infrastructure.
Its cost effectiveness on a small scale opens up new markets, especially offshore, as a real alternative to flaring. (Winner)
Pavegen
(http://www.pavegensystems.com/) for their flexible paving slab that generates electricity from the kinetic energy from footfall. Each step can
generate 2W of energy for the duration of the step and involves just 5mm of movement. It can be linked to lighting or a battery
for power storage. (Commended)
Recolight (http://www.recolight.co.uk/) have developed two collection containers for low-energy light bulbs.
Due to the small amount of mercury used in such lights, they are deemed hazardous waste. The Bulbstore Maxi is for outside
use and the Bulbstore Mini, designed in partnership with the Open University, is for in-store application. Both are designed
to minimise the risk of breakage. (Winner)
Re Hydrogen (http://www.rehydrogen.com/) for their revolutionary electrolyser which produces hydrogen 93% cheaper and 13% more efficiently than current
systems. Innovations include the elimination of standard elements which are not part of the electrolysis reaction to reduce
cost, materials and electrode configuration to avoid catalyst oxidation, and catalyst regeneration. (Commended)
Roger
Bullivant Ltd (http://www.roger-bullivant.co.uk/) and University of Nottingham (http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/). The integration of System First, a pre-fabricated foundation and ground floor system that reduces installation
time by 75% and concrete usage by 90%, with Thermafoundation, which extracts ground heat through piles and also stores heat
interseasonally with the use of solar technologies, provides significant resource and energy usage reduction through this
successful collaboration. (Winner)
Severn Trent plc. (http://www.severntrent.co.uk/) Severn Trent is using 750 hectares of land which have been used to recycle sewage sludge for over 120 years, and
due to elevated levels of heavy metals are unsuitable for food crops, to grow and harvest maize silage. This is stored and
then fed into an anaerobic crop digester to produce biomethane, which is used to fuel a combined heat and power plant which
supports the process and the adjoining sewage treatment works, serving the city of Nottingham. (Winner)
Surface
Power ( http://www.surfacepower.com/) have developed a solar thermal product which decimates the time to install, halves the cost, outperforms on heat
generated and lasts for twice as long when compared with the current legacy systems. (Commended)
University
of Nottingham (http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/) has developed a solar desalination system consisting of a concentrating solar collector which heats the seawater
and a desalination core which incorporates the humidification and dehumidification chambers . The key innovation is the psychometric
energy core cycle that consists of a multi-channel polymer membrane device which ensures high quality treated water. (Winner)
VerdErg
Renewable Energy (http://www.verderg.com/) use Bernoulli's venturi principles to convert large low head flows to higher head smaller flows to drive a
conventional axial flow turbine which is the only underwater moving part in this marine energy technology. It is suitable
for a range of different locations and conditions and is easily scalable. (Winner)
Zeropex (http://www.zeropex.com/) for Difgen, a micro-hydro generator that fits into the water distribution network and converts excess pressure
into electricity. It acts as a pressure-reducing valve that provides either renewable energy under natural flow or recovered
energy under pumped flow via a rotary lobe turbine linked to a generator. (Commended)
The following organisations
were successful in the Rushlight Awards 2009, either winning an award or being commended and shorlisted for their entry (see
Press Releases for the specific results):
Air Products plc (http://www.airproducts.com/) Air Products' Series 100 hydrogen fuelling stations are fully integrated vehicle fuelling systems that are safe, flexible
and easy to install and use. They resemble any other petrol or diesel pump, but offer the user flexibility of hydrogen supply:
providing both delivered and onsite-generated hydrogen, with the latter capable of being generated from renewable energy or
waste. (Winner)
Aquamarine Power (http://www.aquamarinepower.com/) Oyster is the world's first grid-connected nearshore wave energy converter. It is a simple mechanical hinged flap connected
to the seabed at around 10m depth. Each passing wave moves the flap, driving hydraulic pistons to deliver high pressure water
via a pipeline to an onshore electrical turbine. (Winner)
BiogenGreenfinch (http://www.biogengreenfinch.co.uk/) process food and other organic waste by means of anaerobic digestion and use it as a fuel to make renewable energy and a
nutrient-rich fertiliser. The waste is broken down in sealed tanks by micro-organisms which produce a methane-rich biogas,
suitable for a CHP plant. A typical plant generates between 1 and 2 MW of electricity, uses one third of the heat generated
within the process and exports the remaining heat to community buildings. (Winner)
Breathing Buildings Ltd (formerly E-Stack) (http://www.e-stack.co.uk/) for their natural ventilation system which brings fresh air into a room at high level in winter and mixes it with sufficient
interior air prior to its reaching occupants, thereby halving heating bills. In summer, fresh air enters at low levels to
cool occupants directly and on the hottest days night cooling is used to reduce the temperature further. (Winner)
Brigade
Electronics plc (http://www.brigade-electronics.com/) Brigade's revolutionary "ssh ssh" sound reversing alarms are softer on the ear than the more irritating shrill
"beep beep" of conventional tonal alarms. The broad band frequency dissipates quickly so that the sound is contained
in the danger area, thereby making them suitable for night time deliveries. (Winner)
Bright Ideas Global (http://www.brightideasglobal.com/) The ecobutton is a unique power-saving device for computers developed to make it easy for users to activate the most efficient,
economical standby mode available at any time their computer is to be left running idle. The ecobutton software ensures that
both the computer and the monitor are set to operate in the most efficient sleep mode, typically drawing the same amount of
power as when turned off. (Winner)
BuilderScrap (http://www.builderscrap.com/) is an internet exchange for surplus building materials, where construction firms can exchange items with one another and
pass on unwanted clean surplus materials to charities and other voluntary organisations, thereby assisting with landfill avoidance,
Site Waste Management Plans and resource and cost management. (Winner)
CIRIA (http://www.ciria.org/) The SDSPUR Learning Network develops and disseminates good practice on the sustainable management of assets and decommissioning
wastes arising from nuclear sites. It focuses on three aspects: the management of low activity solid radioactive wastes, the
management of solid non-radioactive wastes and the potential re-use of buildings, plant and equipment. (Winner)
Daikin
Airconditioning UK (http://www.daikin.co.uk/) Daikin Altherma is a total domestic heating and hot water system based on air source heat pump technology. The product range
has three distinct solutions: Split System with indoor and outdoor units which convert low grade heat to high grade heat;
the Monobloc which has the pump and heat transfer all preassembled in one unit and the HT System which achieves up to 80 degrees
C. (Winner)
Doosan Babcock (http://www.doosanbabcock.com/) for their OxyCoal Firing demonstration at Renfrew, Scotland. The process separates air into oxygen and nitrogen and the
resulting flue gas, comprising CO2 and water vapour, can be compressed to allow the CO2 to be captured, with only a small
amount of inert gases being vented. (Winner)
Evo Electric (http://www.evo-electric.com/) have developed an innovative plug-in hybrid electric powertrain concept for use in London black cabs and medium and heavy
duty vehicles. The DuoDrive system offers one of the highest torque densities in the world at up to 15Nm/kg. (Commended)
Fostech
Ltd (http://www.fostech.co.uk/) for Voluflow which improves the gravity separation of solids from liquids by generating horizontal, cross-flow patterns
throughout all cross sections of the tank, replacing the upward flows that normally prevail and which are prone to recirculation,
turbulence and flow rate sensitivity. The inlet converter smoothly interconnects a small, fixed, upright scroll-shaped baffle
in the centre of the tank with a weir box and a scum board at the periphery. (Winner)
Hydro International (http://www.hydro-international.co.uk/) The Hydro Filterra Bioretention System is an enhanced biofiltration system that packages indigenous vegetation with engineered
soils into a compact device that provides high levels of stormwater treatment in less than 1/10th the footprint
of conventional biofilters. It uses natural mechanisms to remove harmful pollutants and can be newly or retro-fitted. (Winner)
Indigo
Pearl Marine (http://www.energyinvestgroup.com/) is a joint venture between Energy Invest Group and Mowat Technical & Design Services. The Mer is like a water-wheel
on its side but with adjusting blades. Standing 6m in diameter and 4m tall, or half those for shallow waters, it sits just
below the water level and is suitable for river currents and tidal flows. (Commended)
Nexeon (http://www.nexeon.co.uk/) has developed new anode technology for lithium-ion batteries that will improve the performance of consumer electronics,
energy storage and electric vehicles. Nexeon have demonstrated that the poor lifetime associated with silicon in batteries
can be overcome and so the ten times greater energy capacity that silicon can deliver compared with graphite anode technology
can be exploited. (Winner)
PassivSystems Ltd (http://www.passivsystems.com/) for their Adaptive Occupancy Control architecture that provides a display and an intelligent hub at the heart of the home
which, through a mix of sensors, appliances and actuators automatically optimise energy usage. (Commended)
Point
of Sport (http://pointofsport.com/) A powder impression moulding process is used to take pulverised dirty mixed plastic waste materials and fuses them together
through heat and expansion to create a skin which is then shaped into a portable shelter for sports use. These dugouts are
offered free to sports clubs and schools and offer the opportunity of significant waste plastic diversion from landfill. (Winner)
RockTron (http://www.rktron.com/) uses a traditional mining technology, ‘froth flotation', to wash and separate the components of fly ash from coal-fired
power stations to produce carbon that can be recycled by the power station and alumino-silicates for the cement industry.
(Winner)
SA Vortex Ltd (http://www.savortex.com/) for their hand dryer which heats air without using electrical heating elements. It uses digital brushless technology to
compress and spin air at high speed for rapid water evaporation. (Commended)
Terra Vac UK (http://www.terravac.co.uk/) is the first company in the UK to apply electric resistive heating (Six Phase Heating) to remediate chlorinated solvent
contaminated land thoroughly and in-situ. In particular, the technology has been advanced to cope with varying geology. It
involves the use of high-voltage electricity in the impacted soils and groundwater via electrode arrays. (Winner)
TwentyNinety (http://www.twentyninety.com/) has developed Active Array, a low cost wireless technology which embeds into each photovoltaic module in an array, to create
the first intelligent PV system. The technology communicates with a central control unit and user PC to enable a significant
improvement in safety and PV energy performance. (Winner)
University of Bath (http://www.bath.ac.uk/) The team have developed a revolutionary new price charging system which will encourage energy companies to produce electricity
locally using renewable sources. It represents the first economic charging system that not only reflects the distance that
electricity must travel to reach consumers but also the level of congestion of the travelling paths. (Winner)
University
of Kent (http://www.kent.ac.uk/) Under a Technology Strategy Board-funded project in collaboration with RWE npower, the University of Kent have developed
a technology that is capable of tracking the type of coal being fired in a power plant and monitoring the flame stability
in an online continuous manner. This enables power stations to generate electricity from a wider range of fossil fuels and
biomass under optimum conditions. (Commended)
The following organisations were successful in the Rushlight Awards
2008, either winning an award or being commended and shorlisted for their entry (see Press Releases for the specific results):
Air
Products plc (www.airproducts.com), Imperial College London (www3.imperial.ac.uk)and Doosan Babcock Energy Ltd (www.doosanbabcock.com) for their process which removes mercury, sulphur
dioxide and nitrogen oxides byproducts of the combustion phase during the compression phase of oxyfuel combustion and captures
CO2 for coal-fired power plants. This provides a cheaper and more direct way of addressing these contaminants than the removal
technologies for air-fired combustion. (Winner)
Ampair (www.ampair.com) for the Ampair 6000, a
5.5m diameter Class 1 wind turbine that is suitable for grid connection or battery charging with a rated power of 6KW. It
is a horizontal axis 3-bladed wind turbine of downwind layout with passive yaw control and a direct drive permanent magnet
alternator. It has cold weather protection, reduced noise output and is marine grade, allowing installation anywhere in the
world. (Winner)
AM Technology (www.amtechuk.com) High value chemicals have traditionally been
manufactured in batch reactors. AM Technology have developed a new chemical reactor which allows manufacturers to evaluate
large scale processes at low throughputs and make process development simpler and cheaper. The agitated cell reactor has 10
stirred stages within a single module, obviating the need for inter stage pipes, uses loose agitator inserts, vibrates as
whole and can be upturned to empty. The process cuts out significant waste coming from the chemical development phase for
manufacturers. (Winner)
Artemis Intelligent Power (www.artemisip.com) for their new hybrid vehicle
technology, the Digital Displacement Hydraulic Hybrid. A retrofit of the system on a manual gearbox saloon produces a 50%
reduction in fuel consumption on an urban cycle and is much cheaper than electric solutions. The combination of an ultra-efficient
radial piston design, electronically controlled poppet valves and synchronized computer control avoids the typical high frequency
whine of traditional hydraulics. The Judges said: "This entry incorporates fundamental advances in hydraulics with an
innovative application in hybrid transmission. The potential of fuel savings of up to 50% in urban driving conditions means
there is great scope for widespread applications." (Winner)
Atmos Technologies (www. atmos-technologies.com)
for their completely new method of producing photovoltaic power generating devices which can produce electricity at less than
one tenth of the cost of existing silicon-based solar cells but at the same efficiency, without requiring a clean room or
toxic ingredients. It is based on flame spraying or thermal deposition of semi-conductive transition metal oxides. Devices
as large as 2 metres square can be made with this process. (Commended)
Connaught Engineering (www.connaughtengineering.com)
for their HYBRID+ system, comprising an electric motor which is retrofitted to the vehicle drive line via a constantly variable
transmission. During deceleration or braking, this motor performs like a dynamo and generates electricity which is then stored
in supercapacitors which in turn can assist the vehicle engine when required, creating a fuel/ electric hybrid vehicle. The
judges said: "Connaught Engineering has developed a means of hybridising existing vehicles, thereby achieving up to 25%
improvements in fuel economy without the need for a heavy battery. Their hybridisation system is easily retrofitted to most
existing vehicles and it therefore offers most car owners a relatively inexpensive way to reduce CO2 emissions." (Winner)
Disenco
plc (www.disenco.com) for their HomePowerPlant, a small and highly efficient micro combined heat and power appliance
for domestic and small commercial use. It is based on a kinematic Stirling engine design using helium as its working gas.
It reduces energy costs and CO2 emissions and is expected to be available to the market from the end of 2009. (Winner)
Envar
Limited (www.envar.co.uk) The GICOM composting tunnel can accurately control and maintain even composting temperatures
throughout all of the feedstock. It can therefore guarantee that all of the composting material reaches the pasteurization
stage required by EU regulations, even when meat-based catering is included, in one pass through. The tunnels have heated
walls and floors from hot water pipes ensuring that there are no cold spots. (Winner)
G&P Batteries Ltd (www.g-pbatt.co.uk)
G&P Batteries have developed and run a waste battery collection and recycling system ahead of the forthcoming EU Batteries
Directive. In the UK, 90% of waste lead acid batteries are recycled, but only 3% of portable batteries are recycled. In order
to divert batteries away from landfill, G&P batteries developed the BattBox, a compact and fully recyclable container
designed to encourage battery recycling in the workplace which is collected from each location by G&P Batteries' own fleet
of vehicles. The judges said: "We consider that their entry shows a whole systems approach to a practical issue. It is
timely given the forthcoming Batteries Directive targets and as well as supplying a solution to a growing problem they have
taken innovative approaches both operationally and in providing advice across handling, storage, transportation and recycling
of batteries." (Winner)
Industrial Noise & Vibration Centre (INVC) (www.invc.co.uk) Quiet
Fan Technology is an innovative centrifugal fan noise control technology which reduces tonal noise at source at a fraction
of the cost of traditional techniques such as silencers and enclosures. It also requires no maintenance, lasts the lifetime
of the fan and can be retrofitted with little downtime. The technology involves fan specific aerodynamic inserts that fit
inside the original fan casing and which modify the flow inside the fan by up to 99%. (Winner)
Intelligent Energy (www.intelligent-energy.com)
Intelligent Energy developed a 20KW hydrogen fuel cell power system and helped to integrate it into a light aircraft with
Boeing to create the world's first manned fuel cell aircraft which enjoyed its maiden flight in February 2008. The power system
fitted into the same envelope as the original engine and met all the performance standards of Boeing and the Spanish Civil
Aviation Authority. (Winner)
Mitsubishi Electric (www. meuk.mee.com) for Ecodan, an air source
heat pump which runs on a single-phase electrical circuit and which can regulate the energy consumption to ensure that it
only consumes the exact energy needed to give a constant supply of hot water and heating. The result is a reduction in CO2
emissions of up to 50% and 30% on costs. The judges commented on "the ease with which it can be installed, the diversity
of residential dwellings it can be fitted to, cost recovery and the opportunity for reaching the mass market". (Winner)
Mitsubishi
Electric (www. meuk.mee.com) for their Green Gateway Initiative which is a comprehensive 10-point plan to reduce
CO2 emissions, especially in connection with the commercial use of their heating and cooling equipment. (Commended)
Modec (www.modeczev.com)
for their 98% recyclable, zero emission vehicle which can achieve a 100 mile range carrying up to 2 tonnes at up to 50mph
on a single night's charge using their zebra or lithium ion batteries, a 400% performance improvement on conventional batteries.
(Commended)
Aymeric Girard at Napier University, Edinburgh (http://www.morganps.com/) for a software tool that optimizes clean energy technologies for the benefit of building designers. (Commended)
Novacem
Ltd (www.novacem.com) for their new cement system which not only produces a significant reduction in CO2 emissions
in production when compared with traditional cements, but also absorbs CO2 when hardening and so can lock CO2 into construction
materials. The production of ~2 billion tonnes of cement every year is responsible for ~5% of global CO2 emissions.
Novacem is developing the next generation of cement systems based on magnesium oxide. In contrast to standard cement, its
production process causes minimal CO2 emissions. It hardens by absorbing CO2 and therefore
offers the unique potential to lock atmospheric CO2 into construction materials. This means that for every
tonne of standard cement replaced by Novacem cement, ~1 tonne of CO2 is captured and stored indefinitely,
thus transforming the cement industry from a significant emitter to a significant absorber of CO2. The judges commented:
"The potential impact of the Novacem technology is huge - providing an exciting opportunity to move an industry from
being a significant climate change problem to being part of the solution." (Winner)
OpenHydro (www.openhydro.com)
for their Open-Centre Turbine has a single moving part installed directly on the seabed using a base design without the need
for pinning, piling or drilling and deep enough to avoid any shipping hazard. The device then captures energy from tidal streams.
Deployment can be completed within a single tidal cycle using their own specifically-designed Installer. The turbine features
a horizontal axis rotor, with the rotor blades within an outer housing and having a large open centre, thereby minimizing
both marine life risk and maintenance between overhauls. The Judges said: "An innovative approach to marine current turbine
design that enhances performance, reduces maintenance, and results in lower adverse environmental impact. It can also be very
rapidly deployed due to a novel installation arrangement which eliminates the need for sea-bed construction. The design has
been successfully demonstrated at production scale and is on the point of being available for commercial use." (Winner)
Orchid
Environmental Ltd (www.orchid-environmental.co.uk). Orchid Environmental are behind the £13m demonstration
centre at Huyton in Merseyside which was commissioned in April 2008. The facility diverts up to 80,000 tonnes of municipal
solid waste per annum away from landfill and creates a high quality refined biofuel and a range of recyclates. The light industrial
style building is kept at negative pressure to manage odours which are then addressed by passing the vapours through a biofilter.
(Winner)
Polypipe Civils (www.polypipe.com) The Polystorm range of modular cells provide an effective
method for storm water to be channeled to end up either permeating naturally into the surrounding soil as a soakaway solution
or being attenuated and discharged into the existing drainage system in a controlled manner. With a 40 tonne compression strength,
it has a number of uses and at the end of its 50 year life, it can be 100% recycled. It provides an attractive alternative
to the above-ground solutions to storm water being driven by the Future Water Strategy. The judges said: "This stormwater
management innovation can be a major contribution to allowing existing urban drainage networks to cope with extreme precipitation
events, which are predicted to become more frequent as a result of climate change. It has been developed in a very nice modular
design which can be easily adjusted for use in a range of scales and applications." (Winner)
Polypipe Civils (www.polypipe.com)
Storm-X4 utilises a four-stage, upward flow technology to remove common pollutants such as silt, debris, detergents, hydrocarbons
and heavy metals from storm rainwater washing over heavily-trafficked areas. Once the storm water enters the inlet, it is
forced into a vortex which removes particulates. As the chamber fills up, the water is forced up through the filter which
removes further solids and the filter substrate removes any heavy metals and hydrocarbons by chemical separation. Then there
is the oil retention stage before the water is allowed to be discharged to a soakaway, attenuation structure or drain run.
(Winner)
Pulse Tidal Ltd (www.pulsetidal.com) for their tidal power technology based on twin oscillating
hydrofoils which, unlike many technologies addressing this source of energy, can be scaled up even in shallow water. By using
two horizontal hydrofoils and controlling the angle of the foils, a single Pulse Stream Generator can interact with more than
5 times as much flow as a single rotary turbine, leading to a four-fold increase in unit capacity. The Judges said: "A
highly innovative concept that could significantly extend the application of marine turbines by permitting their use in comparatively
shallow waters but at large power levels. Initial laboratory tests have proven the viability of the approach which is now
being extended to prototype stage." (Commended)
PuriTech Ltd (www.puritech.co.uk) and
ACWA Services Ltd (www.acwa.co.uk) for their NITREAT process which is a continuous ion exchange system for the
removal of nitrates from drinking water. It replaces the fixed bed ion exchange process and enhances performance, reduces
costs and minimizes waste. (Commended)
Pursuit Dynamics plc (www.pursuitdynamics.com) for their
PDX Ethanol Reactor Tower which increases yield and reduces the cost of processing ethanol through instant low temperature
starch activation, minimizing enzyme use and accelerating fermentation times. The tower uses a powerful pressure shock wave
induced by injecting supersonic steam to activate all the starch at a lower temperature than conventional cooking. It can
be retrofitted onto existing facilities on a small footprint. The judges said: "It enables a fixed volume of bioethanol
to be produced from a significantly reduced amount of land or feedstock. This is particularly important at a time when the
world is looking for creative solutions that allow us to produce both food AND fuel. The technology can be retro-fitted to
existing bioethanol plants - which is important when you note the huge number of such plants already operating in the US and
Brazil and Europe rapidly following suit." (Winner)
Pursuit Dynamics plc (www.pursuitdynamics.com)
The PDX Wort Heater enables brewers to save up to 50% of their energy consumption during the wort boiling process, which itself
accounts for about 60% of a brewer's total energy costs. It produces shorter cycle times, increased control over the stripping
of wort volatiles and better mixing of adjuncts, lower steam consumption to remove volatiles, increased hydration and activation
improving hop utilization and removes the need for dedicated external wort heater cleaning. (Winner)
REFLATED
Consortium (www.ctechinnovation.com). The REFLATED process treats the waste liquid crystal display screens and
recovers the maximum value from the panels, including the liquid crystal, indium metal and glass. The process can be integrated
into existing waste processing facilities. As well as being a first as a whole, some of the individual processes are particularly
novel, such as the removal of polymer films from the screens and the recovery and fraction of the liquid crystal. The judges
said: "The REFLATED consortium have identified a process which forms a novel approach to the entire treatment of waste
LCD screens. This is a clear technological advance allowing the treatment of a relatively new waste stream. It combines potentially
significant environmental and economic benefits and we look forward to it making an impact soon." (Winner)
Rural
Generation Ltd (www.ruralgeneration.com) Rural generation provided a solution to a milk processing and bakery
operation which produced 500 m3 of wastewater weekly from their equipment cleaning. Rather than transfer the waste water by
road tanker to local waste water treatment works, it is treated in a surface aerated tank, settled to allow the effluent to
be drawn off the top and the rest used to irrigate a plantation of short rotation coppice using a little-and-often methodology
through pipes which is automatically controlled. (Winner)
Semplice Energy Ltd (www.semplice.co.uk)
for their EcoSolutions which combine clean energy technologies in an optimal way for different types of business customers
with vastly varying needs. (Commended)
Shaw Water Engineering Ltd (www.shawwater.com) Shaw Water
Engineering have developed a fully-automated system for the real-time detection of cryptosporidium in drinking water to replace
the comparatively slow and manual laboratory-based approach used until now. The Crypto Tect platform includes a sub-micron
filtration system, auto-focusing microscope system, use of on-line spore-specific dyes and image interpretation software.
The judges said: "the integration of several technologies to reduce the lead time and improve the accuracy of detection
of cryptosporidium in drinking water supplies is a significant advance, to assure water quality and allow for a more rapid
response in the event of a cryptosporidium outbreak." (Winner)
Structure Vision Ltd (www.structurevision.com)
for their Nuplant, a software product that serves to optimize the way in which intermediate- level nuclear waste
is removed, packed and stored. It is a 3D modeling software that allows the user to view a 3D image of the plant for waste
handling or complete decommissioning purposes. Through a powerful packing/ optimization algorithm which assesses the size
and shape of intermediate-level waste, "what if" scenarios are run on various packing methodologies which enable
the engineer to choose the optimal decommissioning process. (Winner)
Supacycle UK Ltd (www.supacycle.co.uk)
for their innovative new wheeled bin and collection vehicle system, designed for the sole purpose of collecting household
recycling materials. The method enables the recyclates to remain segregated throughout the collection process, eradicating
the costly co-mingled MRF sorting process. (Commended)
TRAMPower (www.trampower.co.uk) for their
CityClass Tram which is half the weight of traditional tram cars, uses off the shelf components and includes an innovative
powered bogie where the 3 phase AC motor is body mounted and the power is transferred to the bogie by a modified HGV prop
shaft and axle combination. (Commended)
University of Edinburgh undergraduates:
Jeffrey Steynor, Nicola Petrie, John Morrissey, David Connolly, Douglas Craig, Cheuk (Henry) Lo, Richard Crosfield Sagivela,
Edward Bolam and Jose Garcia. As part of a Royal Academy of Engineering-sponsored interdisciplinary project, this team of
undergraduate engineering students developed the Estimator, a unique software tool for rapid appraisal of small hydro developments.
It enables the complex range of possible combinations of components that make up small hydro schemes to be optimized on the
basis of cost and productive capability, thereby facilitating the selection of promising schemes for further, more detailed
design. (Winner)
Watermark Global plc (www.watermarkglobalplc.com) for their acid main drainage
waste water treatment. Acid Main Drainage is the toxic water left in the voids after underground gold mining which is rich
in sulphuric acid and metals. The process treats the water so that it reaches potable standards in an area where drinking
water is scarce. (Commended)
Willis Renewable Energy Systems (www.willis-renewables.com) for their
Solasyphon which is used to retrofit a solar thermal system into an existing hot water cylinder. The device uses a thermo-symphonic
effect to provide hot water at usable temperatures within a short period of the sun striking the solar panels. This system
avoids the installation of a twin coil cylinder which is normal in new solar thermal systems, thereby reducing the cost of
installations by up to 50%. The Judges said: "A simple but elegant means of connecting domestic solar thermal heating
devices into existing hot water systems without needing expensive storage tank replacement. It has large potential in the
dominant retro-fit market and could potentially reduce system installation costs by up to 50% and so extend the penetration
of renewable heat into the domestic market." (Winner)
Wind Technologies Ltd (www.windtechs.co.uk)
for their electrical generator system which can be used with all types of wind turbines. Their technology is based around
their patented brushless doubly-fed induction generator, which replaces the more common slip-ring induction generator used
in over 90% of wind power applications currently but which also are the source of a significant proportion of turbine down
time. (Commended)
WISER Recycling Ltd (www.wiserwaste.co.uk) for their closed loop lamp recycling
process. By using an onsite crusher, the TubeEater, to reduce volume, transport costs and emissions are minimized. The resulting
cullet then is sold on for further lamp manufacture, rather than downgraded to aggregate usage which has been the norm. (Commended)
Zander
Corporation (www.zandercorporation.com). Zander is an axonic lake sediment which has a high cation exchange
capacity. It can therefore capture permanently heavy metals such as lead and cadmium and PCBs and PAHs from liquids such as
hydrocarbons and aqueous salt solutions . After 2 years of use, the Zander can be dried to one-tenth of its volume and incinerated
to reclaim the metals. (Winner)
The following organisations were successful in the Rushlight Awards 2007, either
winning an award or being commended and shortlisted for their entry (see 2007 Rushlight Awards for the category results):
Alpheco for
their combined heat and composting solution to food and other biodegradable waste, including sewage sludge cake. The process
takes the biowaste and the temperature reaches more than 60C through heat pump technology in the Aergestors which are then
loaded as roll on roll off truck bodies for direct compost delivery. The Aergestors can be easily scaled up and are suitable
for any location to meet local heating and waste needs. (Commended)
Axon Automotive for their
carbon fibre chassis technology which reduces the weight of cars significantly and creates a low aerodynamic drag, thereby
improving fuel efficency. Unlike previous carbon fibre in sheets, Axon can produce beams with the added strength and usefulness
in an automotive environment, including a 60% weight reduction. (Winner)
The Bobber Company for
the Manchester Bobber, a wave device designed to operate in depths of water from 20m to 60m and consisting of an array of
25 floats sensitive to wave motion with each float connected to a 500KW autonomous power take-off drive train housed on the
top of either a fixed bed or floating platform. (Winner)
Bracknell Forest Borough Council for
their arrangement with Bohringer Ingelheim where industrial grey water is being used for irrigation in Bracknell Town Centre.
(Winner)
Connaught Engineering for their HYBRID+ system, comprising an electric motor which is
retrofitted to the vehicle drive line via a constantly variable transmission. During deceleration or braking, this motor performs
like a dynamo and generates electricity which is then stored in supercapacitors which in turn can assist the vehicle engine
when required, creating a fuel/ electric hybrid vehicle. (Winner)
Ceres Power and Centrica for
their wall-mountable integrated fuel cell microCHP unit which can provide heating, hot water and electricity in a domestic
setting. Using the same water, electricity and gas connections as normal boilers, these new systems can replace conventional
boilers and offer 20% reduction on running costs, significant carbon emission reductions and a 5 year payback at current prices.
(Winner)
C-Tech Innovation for their WEEE management analytical tool that allows an economic assessment
via the waste hierarchy approach of end of life options for electrical and electronic items (from a cost perspective) to be
made. (Winner)
Dulas for their solar-powered fridges for children vaccines and blood in the third
world. (Specially commended)
Environmental Power International for their biomass system that converts
organic matter into high energy gas, a carbon rich char and a distillate oil through a heated, pressured, anaerobic process.
(Winner)
Envirotreat Ltd for their stabilization technology E-Clay, which can be used in the remediation
of land and marine environments. (Winner)
G24 Innovations for their commercial grade Dye Sensitised
Thin Film solar cells, which contain no silicon and are capable of producing electricity in low light. When combined with
the proprietary roll-to-roll manufacturing process that they have developed which can accommodate large volume production,
this translates into a viable and affordable technology worldwide. (Winner)
Geothermal International for
their ground source heat pump solutions in a variety of bespoke locations and situations. (Winner)
Greenbank
Group UK for their pulverized fuel diffuser, the H-VARB. This is a fluidic mixer in a geometric shape which
breaks particle ropes and so enables there to be an even mix of material and air, thereby minimizing both carbon-in-ash and
nitrous oxide emissions. (Winner)
Intelligent Energy for their Emissions Neutral Vehicle (ENV)
Fuel Cell motorbike, the world's first hydrogen fuel cell motorbike which is based around their advanced fuel cell systems
and produces only pure water at the tail pipe. (Commended)
KIV (Energia Ltd) for their incorporation
of a flue gas scrubbing system on to an energy from waste plant. Finely ground sodium bicarbonate powder is blown into the
flue gases upstream of the filter where the acid gases, furans and dioxins are absorbed by mixing in some activated carbon
powder. The back pressure is computer monitored for automatic clean down with compressed air. (Winner)
Lysanda for
their Eco-Log on-board device that gathers performance and emission data from a moving vehicle and then transmits that data
back to a fleet management centre. (Commended)
Naturalwatt for their Microgrid system, a microgeneration
and storage system which optimizes the performance of conventional microgeneration equipment to produce a "domestic power
station" of renewable energy. The system allows both import and export of energy, together with generation and usage
data. (Commended)
Norfolk Solar for their Broadsol scheme which provides professionally designed
solar hot water systems at lower than current market prices to consumers for self-installation, together with the necessary
training. (Commended)
Northern Gas Networks/ United Utilities for their reliable means of recycling
spoil from road works into a consistent and commercially-viable material called cement-bound excavated material version 3
(CBEM3) which is used to backfill road works trenches and is being tested with the aim of becoming the first recycled product
to be approved for use under the New Roads and Street Works Act. (Winner)
Ocean Energy for their
OE Buoy Intermediate Scale Device which is currently being tested at the Galway Bay Test Site, near Spiddal. It is a wave
device with a Wells turbine and generator and incorporating an oscillating water column duct which responds to subsurface
pressure due to wave motion. The wave energy capture is high in normal conditions and is limited in storm conditions which
ensures safe operation. The whole power take-off system has one moving part and sits above the waterline. (Winner)
Quietrevolution for
their high-performance, triple helix vertical axis wind turbine, capable of effective operation in a turbulent urban setting
with a 30% improved efficiency over "propeller style" turbines and with significant noise reduction. (Winner)
Solarcentury for
their C21e solar electric roof tile which replaces four conventional roof tiles and is fixed directly to the roof battens.
Installation is undertaken by a roofer with the leads passed into the roof space for an electrician to complete the wiring.
The integrated thru-flow ventilation enhances the PV performance which achieves a 22% efficiency. (Winner)
SoundDeadSteel.Com for
Sonphonon, their steel or aluminium sheets which absorb noise and vibration. The process involves constrained layer damping
and enables a 2mm aluminium plate to reduce vibration by 20db compared with standard products. (Winner)
Synchropulse for
their innovative electric motor which uses a quarter of the electricity of a conventional motor, can be manufactured more
cheaply and offers variable speed control with the ensuing further energy savings, resulting in a one year payback on investment.
(Winner)
TEG Environmental Ltd for their silo cage composting process which copes with all organic
waste. It involves a single pass through of waste, a modular design allowing for easy expansion, low odour, no forced aeration
or agitation and the ability to process multiple waste streams. (Winner)
Tellisford Mill for their
run-of-river micro-hydro electric turbine and 55kW generator at a watermill in Somerset on the River Frome. (Winner)
Thermomax for
their Vacuum Tube Solar Thermal Collector which uses vacuum technology to ensure the most effective transfer of solar energy
into heat. A row of evacuated glass tubes and a highly insulated water manifold provide perfect insulation from weather vagaries.
The design is a simple click together or plug and play fixing and the configuration can deliver up to 30% more energy than
a standard solar arrangement. (Commended)
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