A summer update..

Time for another update! Here at the Power Collective, it has been an interesting time recently - a number of big decisions to make, and some interesting developments.. So what is new you ask? Well, As far as the RidgeBlade is concerned, we have been busy overcoming a number of small obstacles. After initial testing, we have decided that the units were too heavy, and that it would be sensible to produce most of the major components out of recycled plastic. In addition to reducing the weight (which makes the RidgeBlade quicker and easier to install) this will also have the effect of reducing the cost to the customer, and will reduce the amount of embedded carbon in the unit. However, making things in plastic requires a lot of effort on the pre-production design, a lot of cost for the tooling and more time.. Because we are desperate to see RidgeBlades on as many roofs as possible, it was this additional time that really made us think twice about going down the plastics route, but in the long run it will be worth it -the RidgeBlade will be inexpensive, lighter and easier to assemble/install. We have been in very detailed discussions with a major plastics manufacturer here in the UK, who are currently working on the initial designs and will have production plans ready within a couple of weeks.

All of this unfortunately means that we have pushed back the date when RidgeBlades will be available, but in the meantime, we have been busy on another version of the RidgeBlade (we haven't named it yet, so the working title of RB2 will have to do!). The RB2 is specifically designed for use on industrial, commercial and agricultural buildings, and is roughly twice the size of the original. There are a number of technical differences to the RB2 to take account of the huge roofs that they will be installed on, and the differences in airflow. These units will be rugged and powerful, and are designed to pay for themselves in a relatively short time without governmental support in the form of a feed-in tariff . We expect the RB2 to be on sale within the next 2 months. Photos will be on the website as soon as we can. On the issue of planning permission, we have been working with the North York Moors National Park Authority, who tell us the the RB2 will not need full planning permission, (just agricultural notification - much less complicated) so that's another reason to choose RidgeBlade!

Anyway - back to work now!