Coventry’s Bladon Jets targets £20m growth capital injection
AN innovative designer and manufacturer of small scale power generators is looking to raise up to £20m to fund the further growth and development of the business.
Coventry-based Bladon Jets uses high efficiency, clean burning, multi-fuel micro turbines and in the past has worked with the likes of Jaguar Land Rover on pioneering power systems.
The firm’s successes include the development of the world’s first 12kW Micro Turbine Genset (MTG), a small, lightweight generator that offers several advantages over conventional diesel generators – including a significantly lower total cost of ownership.
Currently, the global market for conventional 12kW diesel powered generators totals one million units per annum. Within this market, Bladon has identified a clear opportunity in the telecom towers sector that accounts for around 60% of global demand for 12kW generators. Sector consolidation and the growing presence of tower operating companies across a range of markets, particularly in Africa, have given rise to forecasts of 750,000 units to be sold annually in coming years.
Bladon said its MTGs are more efficient and cleaner burning than conventional generators. They can be powered by a range of fuels – enabling the substitution of lower cost alternatives to diesel and discouraging fuel theft by using fuel mixtures that are unsuitable for conventional diesel engines. Bladon’s MTGs also require no oil or water – prolonging service intervals and greatly reducing maintenance costs.
Bladon is currently undertaking trials with leading multi-national telecom tower companies in Nigeria and Uganda.
Paul Barrett, CEO, Bladon Jets, said: We have identified a significant market opportunity for our pioneering Micro Turbine Gensets across a range of sectors and territories and we are currently undertaking trials in partnership with leading telecom tower operators in Africa.
“Our longer term aim is to be a pre-eminent player in the distributed power generation revolution that is bringing electricity to rural areas in the developing world and disruptive change to energy markets in the developed world.
“As the scope and scale of our potential markets increase, we are exploring funding options that will support further innovation and production ramp up as part of our strategy for international growth.”
Bladon has a key strategic partnership with JLR’s ultimate parent Tata, which holds a 20% stake in the business. As a result, Tata Group companies will provide manufacturing and distribution for Bladon products in India.
Bladon said it had a strong management team with considerable experience in growing businesses and scaling production globally.
It also has a high calibre board of directors and advisors that includes chairman Sir John Baker, the former managing director of the Central Electricity Generating Board and chairman of National Power; Non-Executive Director Dr Ralf Speth, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover; and Advisor Professor Philip Ruffles, former Director of Engineering and Technology and main board member of Rolls-Royce.
