Posted by Creative Colchester
CloudConnX and Innovative Creations appointed by British start-up Alpha 311 to support a ground-breaking power generation project at The O2 Arena
26 April 2021
Internet Service Provider CloudConnX and Internet of Things (IoT) specialists Innovative Creations have been appointed by British start-up Alpha 311 to collaborate on a high-profile energy generation project at the O2 Arena in London.
The O2 is continuing to lead the way with its track record of innovation and sustainability, agreeing with Alpha 311 to become the first venue in the world to trial their ground-breaking wind turbines. Owner and operator AEG is committed to reducing its carbon footprint by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and exploring new ways to power the planet using its portfolio of global entertainment venues.
Alpha 311, CloudConnx and InnoCreate were introduced by Energy Impact following a webinar run by the University of Brighton.
The collective goal of Alpha 311, CloudConnX and Innovative Creations, is to build a suite of IoT sensors to capture an array of data from energy generation to air quality and other environmental elements, communicating these to the Microsoft Azure Cloud to form part of a Smart Health/Cities initiative.
With this new installation of 10 kW of wind generation, The O2 could produce up to an estimated 87,600 kWhs a year, around the same amount required to power 23 British homes for a year. While this is overall a small portion of The O2’s energy needs, it’s an exciting new step into the future of local and distributed 100% carbon-free electricity generation.
Alpha 311 CEO, Barry Thompson said:
“We’re so pleased that The O2 is the first to sign up with us globally. The Alpha 311 turbine was born in Britain with international aspirations, so it’s fitting that we’re working with the world’s most popular music, entertainment and leisure venue. It’s not just a London landmark, it’s a global icon, and we couldn’t be more proud, or thankful, for The O2’s belief in us.”
Innovative Creations Director, James Brand said:
“We are excited to be working on the project at this early stage with the other project collaborators. We are passionate about green energy, so this project allows us to combine our extensive experience in industrial IoT, big data and the Microsoft Azure Cloud to help Alpha 311 deliver intelligence to these turbines while also helping protect our children’s future. We look forward to helping Alpha 311 scale the delivery of this total solution far beyond The O2.
CloudConnX Director, Jim Mathieson added:
“Opportunities to work on a project that can both deliver energy and help improve the environment in which we live don’t come along every day. This is a great result for Alpha 311 and The O2, and demonstrates what is possible when organisations with shared values work together. We are delighted to be working with Alpha 311 and Innovative Creations on the O2 project.”
Globally, AEG – the owner and operator of The O2 – is committed to reducing environmental impact across all of their assets and through the industry-leading corporate sustainability programme, AEG 1EARTH, which encourages sharing best practices to forge a more sustainable future.
Notes to editors
Alpha 311 is Britain’s most innovative wind energy company. Its unique vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) are smaller, cheaper and more efficient than traditional turbines. The blades are built from recycled plastics and are themselves fully recyclable.
The turbines can be retrofitted to existing infrastructure (e.g. lighting columns) and so are easy to install. They reduce transmission costs by producing energy close to where it’s needed. They are less than a metre tall and weigh just 3.7kg.
The company has focused on local communities by pledging to power street lights for free and to give away a portion of the energy generated so it can be used for schools, hospitals, and other public amenities.
Ex-BBC and ITV anchor Sir Martyn Lewis CBE sits on the board, while Vodafone founder Sir Julian Horn-Smith is the company’s chairman.
For more information on Alpha 311, contact mike@alpha-311.com
CloudConnX is an Internet Service Provider. Based in Eastbourne and with offices in Brighton, the company delivers connectivity, data centre and cloud solutions to a broad base of customers, including commercial and charitable organisations, local and central government agencies, healthcare and blue light services.
The company has a strong bias towards delivering social value, which is demonstrated through its innovative managed WiFi solutions that provide internet access to over 1 million citizens.
Innovative Creations is a small end-to-end solution company that specialises in building solutions with Microsoft Azure at its core. Based in Essex, the company has a strong emphasis on delivering industrial IoT and energy sector projects and its clients range from some of the largest global companies to small innovative start-ups.
