Clean technology is increasing globally as the demand for green, environmentally conscious technology grows. This clean technology (or cleantech) is centered upon increasing productivity and efficiency while lowering overall costs used in products and services.

Although nonpolluting technologies are being used in New Zealand, R & D has been slow to take off, even as we use a lot of these clean technologies already for electrical production, ( geothermal, hydro and wind technology). The first centre dedicated to researching and developing nonpolluting technology launched in Otaki in 2010. This centre has the capacity for 20 companies and has the funding from Weltec Connect.

Weltec Connect’s Centre for Smart Products see’s nonpolluting technology as an exciting area to work in, and glad to see the industry starting to grow in New Zealand, especially in relation to sustainable products and services. Director of technology at the Centre for Smart Products, Paul Mather said, “While some of these technologies are still in the concept and early development stage like utilising marine technology to harness undersea and wave energy, other blue technologies which use water in a variety of ways (water jetting and in emulsified fuels) – are in development, testing or production phases.”

Although Weltec Connect has involvement with the Otaki Clean Technology Centre, they are also involved have other projects to do with nonpolluting around New Zealand, such as:

- Developing ultra high pressure (UHP) water jetting systems that reduce water usage and recycle as much as 96% of water used. This technology is being developed with AquaMax Devco, and has many different uses such as, cleaning of infrastructure like, bridges, roads and buildings as well as paint stripping.

- Fuel blends to decrease disgorgement without having to alter existing engine parts as well as research into reprocessing oil waste. Dual fuels and electrically powered vehicles are also being developed by the Centre for Smart Products.

- Assistance with development and testing of aspects of Iain Jerrett’s electric motorcycle – and in particular the battery management system and its casing. Essentially this technology can be applied to a range of vehicles or anything which requires power.

WelTec Connect is also getting involved with green technology by:

- Recycling waste with the Hutt City Council by a program known as Silver Lining.

- Providing a programme called Lean manufacturing with the help of the Centre for Smart Business aimed at lowering business waste.

In order to encourage R & D of clean technology, a number of schemes have been put into place. For example the TTV (Technology Transfer Voucher) enables companies like Weltec to work with underfunded businesses to develop designs, concepts and projects. For more information about funding please contact Paul Mather at the Centre for Smart Products.