Simulations confirmed the Birmingham Blade is up to seven times more efficient than existing designs in Birmingham’s wind speeds and urban environment.
Dr Kit Windows Yule, University of Birmingham, and Chief Scientific Officer, EvoPhase; Leonard Nicusan, Chief Technology Officer, EvoPhase; Dominik Werner, CEO, EvoPhase; David Coleman, CEO, University of Birmingham Enterprise; Jack Sykes, Chief Operating Officer, EvoPhase; John Cook, Entrepreneur-in-Residence, University of Birmingham Enterprise; Laura Bond, Entrepreneur-in-Residence, University of Birmingham Enterprise; Paul Jarvis, Managing Director, Kwik Fab Ltd
AI design specialists EvoPhase and precision metal fabricators KwikFab have unveiled the world’s first urban wind turbine designed by AI, and tailored to the unique wind conditions of a specific geographic area. The team has called it the Birmingham Blade.
The collaboration between EvoPhase and KwikFab provides a solution to one of the most pressing issues in the green energy landscape – how to produce small-scale, affordable, generators of clean wind energy.
EvoPhase used its AI-driven design process to generate and test designs for their efficiency at wind speeds found in Birmingham, which, at 3.6 metres / second are substantially lower than the 10 metres per second rating for most turbines.
“We needed a turbine that could capture Birmingham’s relatively low wind speeds while managing turbulence caused by surrounding buildings,” explained Leonard Nicusan, Chief Technology Officer of EvoPhase. “The design also had to be compact and lightweight to suit rooftop installations."
EvoPhase found the optimal design for curved blades which spin around a central point, and confirmed that that it will be up to seven times more efficient than existing designs used in the Birmingham area.
Using AI was essential for breaking free from the long-standing biases that have influenced turbine designs for the past century. AI allowed us to explore design possibilities beyond the scope of traditional human experimentation. We were able to generate, test, and refine over 2,000 wind turbine designs in just a few weeks, significantly accelerating our development process and achieving what would have taken years and millions of pounds through conventional methods.
“Our evolutionary simulations have confirmed the Birmingham Blade is up to seven times more efficient than existing designs in Birmingham’s wind speeds and urban environment. The final design is not just a prototype — it is a predictive solution that is ready for real-world use.”
Developed by a research group led by Dr Kit Windows-Yule at the University of Birmingham, EvoPhase’s AI-led evolutionary design process mimics natural selection, this approach allows for simultaneous optimisation of many different parameters, avoiding traditional trade-offs between performance factors.
KwikFab produced the first iteration of the Birmingham Blade to demonstrate the feasibility of manufacturing the design. An aluminium version will be sited on a roof space in Birmingham for evaluation and testing, and the final product is expected to be available by late 2025.
The EvoPhase – KwikFab collaboration provides a rapid design and prototyping service, and the team is now working on another design for the very different conditions in Edinburgh.
Paul Jarvis from KwikFab is confident that there is sufficient talent and space in Birmingham to deliver quick turnaround from design to prototyping for wind turbines that are geographically tailored to specific local conditions around the rest of the world.
We can take a complex design, and manufacture and ship a prototype for testing within weeks. We’d like to work with organisations that want to make the most of wind power, a source of sustainable energy that is free, and present in every country.
Since its launch in 2023, EvoPhase has expanded its AI-powered evolutionary design approach to industries beyond wind energy, including the optimisation of equipment for mixing, blending, and storing granular materials in the food, pharmaceutical, and chemical manufacturing sectors.EvoPhase’s collaboration with KwikFab demonstrates the broad applicability of their predictive designs.
It was made possible in part by the Manchester Prize which named the team as a finalist in the inaugural year of the prize in May 2024. The Manchester Prize is a multi-million-pound challenge prize from the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to reward UK-led breakthroughs in artificial intelligence for public good.
For media information contact Ruth Ashton, University of Birmingham Enterprise, r.c.ashton@bham.ac.uk
Photographs and video available on request.
The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions, and its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers and teachers and more than 6,500 international students from nearly 150 countries.
University of Birmingham Enterprise helps researchers turn their ideas into new services, products and enterprises that meet real-world needs. We also provide incubation, and support innovators and entrepreneurs with mentoring, advice, and training, manage the University’s Academic Consultancy Service, and University of Birmingham Enterprise Operating Divisions. Follow us on LinkedIn and X.
EvoPhase uses cutting-edge evolutionary algorithms developed at the University of Birmingham to enhance design and performance, providing proven, predictive solutions that are ready for real-world application, and is dedicated to driving innovation and supporting industries in achieving their efficiency and sustainability goals.
EvoPhase delivers cutting-edge designs tailored to industrial needs. To explore how our evolutionary AI approach can drive solutions in your industry, visit www.evophase.co.uk.
For commercial information about EvoPhase contact Rachel Long, rachel@evophase.co.uk.
KwikFab is a Birmingham based, family-run fabrication business that has evolved from a small one man band, to a forward thinking manufacturer that creates quality products with precision and care. To find out more about we can help you with your metal fabricating needs visit www.kwikfabltd.co.uk.
For commercial information about KwikFab, contact Bobbie Purvis at KwikFab: bobbie@kwikfabltd.co.uk
Associate Professor in Chemical Engineering
Kit Windows-Yule is a Lecturer in Chemical Engineering, working jointly with the School of Physics and Astronomy's Positron Imaging Centre.
