Coventry-based Bladon Jets, which designs and manufactures small-scale power generators, has won a £4.8 million order for its 12kW Micro Turbine Genset (MTG) from QTE — a leading provider of infrastructure services to the telecom towers and energy services sector across Africa.
This is the first significant volume order for the 12kW MTG, following field trials of the product over the last six months. The ‘gensets’ will be used to power telecom tower sites in Africa that are managed by QTE. Bladon will begin delivery in the fourth quarter of this year.
CEO Paul Barrett said: “We are delighted to have secured this contract with QTE. It is a strong endorsement of our innovative technology and the advantages that our generators can offer in the region and beyond.”
Andrew Edmondson, CEO of QTE, said: “We have been very impressed by the advantages of Bladon’s micro-turbine generators compared to conventional diesel ‘gensets’.
The 8,000hr service interval really is a game changer for telecom tower operators, and we look forward to working with Bladon to commence installation on the sites we manage across Africa.”
QTE provides infrastructure services to telecom tower businesses in 10 countries in Africa, including Uganda, Malawi, Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania.
Around 200,000 telecom towers are currently operated across Africa to provide mobile communications infrastructure, and the number is growing rapidly.
Bladon’s MTGs are said to be more efficient and cleaner-burning than conventional diesel generators, and they can be powered by a range of fuels. They are also smaller, lighter and quieter.