C2I 2022: Aerospace & Defence Shortlist

Gloucestershire-based energy technology start-up WITT Energy has led the development, optimisation and testing of an innovative renewable energy system that could be used to provide power for a range of sensitive subsea applications.

The system is underpinned by the firm’s WITT technology (Whatever Input to Torsion Transfer), which uses pendulums connected to a flywheel to generate electricity. Unlike most other energy harvesting devices – which typically use up-and-down or side-to-side motion, the WITT device captures energy from all six degrees of chaotic motion.

Developed in collaboration with a range of organisations from the marine sector and beyond, the subsea variant of the technology works by harvesting the oscillating motion caused when a constant flow of water meets a rounded object: water flow vortex induced vibration. This action is used to turn a flywheel in one direction and generate electrical power for subsea sensors and other data gathering equipment.

WITT has already supplied a complete system to the US Dept of Energy Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and is in talks regarding deploying and testing and testing the system in a wide range of locations. Together with its partners it’s now working toward large scale production of the device.