IS IT A PLANE? YES – AND THIS ONE’S GOING TO BE ALL ELECTRIC

BAE Systems and Berkshire-based Malloy Aeronautics are exploring the development of an all-electric heavy lift uncrewed air system (UAS) as a potential solution to deliver cost-effective, sustainable and rapid response capability to military, security and civilian customers.

Not content with building the phenomenally successful green energy provider, Ovo Energy, which started life in farm buildings in Cirencester in 2009, and last year generated sales of £932 million, in 2016 entrepreneur Stephen Fitzpatrick founded Vertical Aerospace to decarbonise air travel using the best technology from the aviation, energy and automotive industries.

Just one year later, a team of engineers had designed and built its first demonstrator aircraft, the VA-X1, working closely with regulators and carried out the first tethered flight.

And in 2018, its first eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft was granted flight permission by the Civil Aviation Authority.

The last two years have seen no let-up in the company’s ambitions. In 2019 it joined the government’s Future Flight Challenge which is investing up to £125 million to develop greener ways to fly, The investment is matched by £175 million from industry.

Last year Vertical Aerospace revealed that it planned to launch on the New

York Stock Exchange via a SPAC (special purpose acquisition company), to become a publicly-traded company valued at approximately £1.5 billion. And it hasn’t even transported a passenger yet.

Stephen Fitzpatrick said: “Electrification will transform flying in the 21st century in the same way the jet engine did 70 years ago. We are bringing together some of the largest and most respected technology and aeronautical businesses in the world and together we can achieve our aim of making the VA-X4 the first zero carbon aircraft that most people will fly on. The United Kingdom is already a global leader in aerospace innovation, and we believe Vertical Aerospace will be the British engineering champion to drive the aviation industry forward.”

The vehicle will be designed with a top speed of 140 kilometres per hour and the capability to carry a 300 kg payload with a range of 30 kilometres.

Dave Holmes, Advanced Projects, Technology and Manufacturing Director at BAE Systems’ Air Sector, said: “Bringing together Malloy’s proven track record of innovative technology in this field with our understanding of the military operating environment and extensive engineering and systems integration experience, will enable us to develop a sustainable and cost-effective solution for military and commercial customers.”

Oriol Badia, CEO at Malloy Aeronautics, added: “Beyond the military capabilities, there is also clear potential in the commercial, security and humanitarian arenas.

“Our goal is to work together with BAE Systems to ensure that our capabilities are not just the first and best for defence, but that they become the future workhorse to keep all our personnel safe.”

Cheltenham company raises £3 million via crowdfunding to accelerate ground source heat pump adoption

Renewable Heat Holdings Limited (RHHL), one of the UK’s largest owner-operators of ground source heat pump systems, has raised £3 million in crowdfunding via Triodos Bank to accelerate the installation of ground source heat pumps in the UK.

Currently, 78 per cent of energy used to heat buildings is powered by gas. The transition to low energy heating remains significantly behind renewable electricity generation in the UK and is central to the plan to reach net zero. RHHL’s ground source heat pumps replace traditional gas boilers, with all of its existing systems having been installed in new-build retirement homes.

RHHL owns and operates more than 70 projects with a combined capacity of 11.55 MW, generating more than 17,000 MWh of renewable heat per year. The company generates income through payments under the government’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme for each of the projects.

Cheltenham-based RHHL retains ownership of the entire renewable heat system and leases the client’s plant room for 20 years. The company is responsible for maintaining and servicing the heat pump and ensuring the system provides heat and hot water. At the end of the 20-year lease, the entire heat pump system passes to the client. Residents receive hot water and heating and pay only for the electricity to power the pumps.