COMMUNITIES in the Developing World will be helped by a small wind turbine which generates electricity.

Newcastle research and development company Network Energies has been awarded a £10,000 feasibility grant from Smart, the Department of Trade and Industry scheme which helps individuals and companies develop their ideas commercially.

The grant will allow Newcastle academic Dr John Simnett and his fellow directors Klemens Veth and Narendra Vhatia to realise their dream of developing a low-cost wind turbine to provide renewable energy for communities across the world.

Dr Simnett said: "Most people accept that renewable energy is the way forward - our challenge was to find a way that people could afford to run it in their homes.

"There are existing products on the market but they are very expensive."

Published: 04/11/2003