Founded in March 2009, Noveol is a French cleantech company that designs and markets a new type of vertical axis wind and innovative design: the nov’éolienne. From 1 to 10 kW, roof or mast, Nov’éolienne is the meeting of art and technology, and its small dimensions make it particularly suitable for domestic consumption, including in urban areas. It is quiet, aesthetic and high performance.

PRESENTATION

The company was founded  by Maximilien Petitgenet and Abdennour Rahmani, while engineering students to ENSMA (Ecole Nationale Superieure de Mecanique et d’aérotechnique). Both were keenly interested in technologies related to renewable energy and particularly attracted by the vertical axis windmill. The project will be realized two years later by the creation of the company Noveol. The Nov’éolienne has been patented and extensively tested in recent years and several prototypes are underway. The company  innovated by introducing a good carbon balance. In direct competition with models from Asia, the brand mentioned that its French Nov’éoliennes is made in France  and underline that most materials are mostly recycled.

PRODUCT & INNOVATION

The company developed two types of models intended for two types of contract: 
- The Model Family is the main destination for individuals: annual production of 3500kWh corresponds to the electricity needs of an average household of 4 persons in France (excluding heating). 
- The collective model is rather intended to communities, developers, developers. It can easily fit into a proposed eco-neighborhood or home consumption low. 
Noveol technology has been patented and works by every wind (vertical axis geometry improved patent for operation by the wind, swirling and even omni-directional). The concept has been validated by the laboratories of the Ecole Nationale Superior of Mechanics and Aviation technology, due to wind tunnel tests. In terms of safe operation: energy production is under constant surveillance: in case of strong wind, the Nov’éolienne stops itself. Noveol believes that maintaining near-zero (one response every 4 years). The product also benefits from an intelligent control system (Operating parameters adjusted continuously by an intelligent control board) 

Technical Data 
Models: Family / Collective 
Power handling (15m / s) 2kW / 6kW 
Rotor dimensions 3 x 1.7 meters / 6 x 3 meters 
Dimensions of the pole 6 to 12 meters / 9 to 15 meters 
Startup Speed 3 m / s / 3 m / s 
Speed off 20 m / s / 20 m / s 
Estimated life 30 years / 30 years 
Annual production averaged 3 500 kWh / 10 000 kWh 

MARKET

The market for domestic wind is booming. Nov’éolienne is a vertical axis wind turbine design aesthetic. Its small dimensions make it particularly suitable for domestic consumption, including in rural urbain. Today, 60% of the French wish the development of these small wind turbines at home, and this results in an important development, especially to Noveol through a rapid export in the European territory. 

STRATEGY

To recruit its first customers, Noveol thinks first rely on their own teams before then allied to a major French operators of the wind. The company focuses primarily target communities and tertiary institutions as well as individuals. A first prototype has just been inaugurated in November 2009. Co-funded by Novéol, Soregies Foundation and Poitiers University, this prototype is now located and visible at the University Botanical Garden (site of Deffend) at Mignaloux Beauvoir. The company intends to market its first prototype by mid-2010.

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