Vortex Power Systems Limited has developed a proprietary system to convert any source of waste heat into a zero-carbon powerplant and generate electricity from the wasted energy. The system utilises wasted heat to create an atmospheric vortex and generate electricity from the high wind speeds produced. The team expect using this method could deliver an extra 5% power generation to an existing power station (geothermal, nuclear or coal-fired).

The company is led by a highly experienced team and board

• Professor Richard Flay (Chief Scientific Officer, Co-founder) is an expert in the fields of aerodynamics, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and wind engineering. He has a history of successful commercial ventures including developing the world’s first wind tunnel capable of producing twisted flow for testing yacht sails.
• Neil Hawkes (CTO, Co-founder) has over 30 years of commercial experience, a Masters in Mechanical Engineering (First Class Honours), and has recently submitted his PhD research within the area of atmospheric buoyancy vortices.
• Perzaan Mehta (GM) is an ex-Associate of Pacific Channel. In this role, he was instrumental in the DD effort into Vortex and ended up seeing so much potential he left Pacific Channel and took a full-time role as GM.
• Paul Smart (Chair) is ex-CFO of Meridian Energy and has since held Director roles in public and private NZ and US companies (such as Geo40).
• Jaco Pretorius (Director) has over 25-years of experience in product development within the aerospace, chemical, energy and transportation sectors.
• Ashwath Sundaresan (Director) is an engineer by trade (PhD in Bioengineering) with a strategy background (Accenture, Google).

Enterprise Angel members invested in Vortex Power Systems’ initial seed capital rise in 2021.