Productiv is part of a consortium awarded £6m by the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) to develop zero emission Dearman Engine technology and applications.
The APC announced today that its latest grant funding round (APC5) will include multi-million-pound support for revolutionary clean cold and power technology.
The consortium, led by clean cold and power technology company Dearman, is working to move Dearman Engine technology and applications into manufacturing and full commercial deployment. The engine will deliver radical improvements to the fuel efficiency of HGVs and buses, helping to significantly reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and CO2.
In addition to Productiv and Dearman, the project brings together Hubbard Products, Air Products, Wessington Cryogenics and Loughborough University, with each partner bringing unique expertise to the development, manufacture and commercialisation of the technology.
The consortium is matching Government funding, bringing the total investment in the cutting edge zero emission technology to £15.5m.
The Dearman Engine is driven by the expansion of liquid nitrogen and can be used to produce clean cold and power for a range of applications across transport, logistics and the built environment.
The most advanced application of Dearman technology is a zero emission transport refrigeration system. Designed and developed in conjunction with Hubbard Products, it’s a sustainable alternative to the diesel driven units that conventionally keep refrigerated trucks cold. The system is currently on trial with Sainsbury’s delivering food across London, where it is already having a positive impact on air quality.
With support from the APC, the technology will be developed to support further applications, including to an air conditioning and auxiliary power system for buses, which in hot climates can consume more than a third of a bus’ diesel.
Speaking for the consortium following the funding announcement, Dearman founder and CEO Toby Peters said: “Globally we face a major challenge; how can we reduce our impact on the environment, while continuing to grow the economy? Technology such as the Dearman Engine has the potential to make a meaningful contribution to achieving both goals. It’s a low cost zero emission technology, which can improve the efficiency of diesel engines – or replace them entirely in some applications – without imposing increased costs on business. It can have a major impact on the air quality of our cities and help to address climate change.
“As a result of all this, the clean cold and power technology we are developing with our partners has the potential to be exported to fast-growing economies around the world, helping them to meet their booming energy needs without creating disastrous environmental consequences. The APC has recognised both the economic and environmental potential of the technology and has provided support that will unlock further investment and enable the aspiration to become a reality.”
Applications of Dearman Engine technology can have a significant impact on the environment. For example, diesel powered transport refrigeration units are lightly regulated and, as a result, replacing an auxiliary unit with a zero emission alternative can reduce the total engine emissions of nitrogen oxides from the entire refrigerated vehicle by over 70%.
