Renewable energy idea full steam ahead for Kouris

The European Patents Office has finally accepted Paul Kouris's patent application for his invention, the Kouris Centri-Turbine generator (KCT) after 13 years. The turbine, which acts as a water wheel on its end like an egg beater put into a vortex, creates renewable energy using water.

His European patent application, first lodged in 1988, will see Kouris extend his market to Europe and told Neos Kosmos his "plans for the future are to commercialise it in Europe".

Following the announcement of the carbon tax by the Federal Government, the generator has been better received in Australia.

"(The carbon tax) is making it much more feasible for companies to get involved in renewable energy - it's making renewable energy much more competitive with coal," said Kouris.

"I have had a very positive response from the government. They've invited me to make an application for the purpose of building a project in New South Wales on the Malwala canal. For that I have the support of Murray Irrigation Limited who are providing the site without charge for the life of the project with an interest in putting the system into their canal system. Also Goulburn-Murray Water have indicated in writing to the government that they have 6000 sites suitable for this system."

His invention is environmentally sound as it does not need big dams, which may flood valleys and cause environmental problems.

"This system does not need big dams, it just needs waterways. It can go inside irrigation canals. It can go inside small rivers and big rivers. Take Marysville for example, it's in a little creek. Because we are working with the spinning engine which comes from the spin of the earth so all you are doing is putting a bathtub in the waterway so it doesn't need a lot of water.

Apart from Australia, Kouris has secured patents in Canada, Brazil, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Greece, Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland, England, Spain, Portugal and Japan. Europe was the one that provided the most hurdles for him. Firstly he had to prove the novelty aspect of his invention and show that it was new. And also because in 2003, an Austrian professor had made a patent application with a similar invention to his. Kouris said he is in talks with the professor so they can work together.

"This project has been struggling to find the right sized company to develop it, license it, make use and sell it because as the inventor I am not a manufacturer and don't want to become an energy company. And this is what's causing the most problems. The oxen are slow but the earth is patient."