Sheffield-based Libertine, a developer of high-performance linear-motor generator systems, is investing in new headquarters, following a £500,000 funding boost.

It will use the investment from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF) to advance its linear power systems technology and to set up new headquarters in Sheffield, with product development and testing facilities.

Libertine is working with customers in the power and transport industries to commercialise electrical-power generator products known as free piston engines, in which the crankshaft is replaced by a linear electrical generator.

This results in a highly efficient engine that can make better use of renewable fuels such as biogas and bioethanol, potentially producing a third more power from the same amount of fuel.

Libertine aims to make the free piston engine a leading format for small-scale ‘on demand’ distributed power generation.

Founded by Sam Cockerill, an engineer with a background in the biofuels industry, Libertine currently employs four people but expects to double its workforce in the year ahead.

Mr Cockerill said: “This investment by the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund represents an important milestone for Libertine that will help us to expand our customer base, build our team and further develop our core Linear Power Systems technology.

“In the past few months, we have seen increasing demand from companies in the automotive, oil and gas and dynamic-testing industries.”