“Delivering Design Power” – Renewables First Streamlines Product Development Process with Autodesk
Hydro Power Provider Draws on Rich Functionality of the Software to Achieve Design Efficiencies
Farnborough, UK, 04 January 2012 – Renewables First, UK-based consultancy and provider of hydro power and hydro electric systems, has joined the Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program and standardised on Autodesk software solutions. This has enabled it to streamline its product development process, while driving productivity and design efficiencies.
Renewables First, which develops small scale hydro power systems, uses Autodesk Inventor and AutoCAD Civil 3D civil engineering design software to model all the constituent parts of these systems – from structural intakes to civil works piping and turbine systems.
Marc Sheikh, senior engineer, Renewables First, said, “we model everything in Inventor and then export it in the form of DWG files into AutoCAD where the models can be used in conjunction with architects’ drawings.
“We have been impressed with the rich functionality and ease-of-use of the Autodesk software solutions and their ability to support seamless integration, particularly between AutoCAD and Inventor,” he adds. “We have also been actively using the latest version of AutoCAD Civil 3D civil engineering software, which provides more detail and supports a greater level of design complexity than any solution of this type we have used before.”
In addition to developing its products, Renewables First is using Autodesk Inventor to deliver high end visualisation in real time. The images output by this process have proved critical in achieving consensus with clients or in presenting applications to environment agencies or planners, both key in enabling Renewables First to achieve its strategic goals.
Renewables First also benefits from the industry’s familiarity with Autodesk software. “The architects and surveyors we work with typically use Autodesk solutions and often deploy 3D models,” adds Sheikh. “Being able to share a design platform with them helps drive productivity and project efficiencies.”
Most of Renewables First’s design team was familiar with Autodesk software and quick to get ‘up and running’ with the new solutions. Autodesk conducted over- the-phone training to further streamline the process. Software support is provided by Autodesk reseller, Cadassist.
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About Renewables First
Based in Stroud, Gloucestershire, Renewables First is one of the UK’s leading small-scale hydropower consultancy design and installation companies. It has been delivering micro hydro, small hydro and farm wind projects for over ten years. It provides the full range of services from hydro and wind feasibility studies to planning and consenting, design, project management and installation.
About the Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program
The Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program supports the efforts, innovations and environmental advancements of clean technology pioneers, by providing world-class software to design, visualise and simulate their groundbreaking ideas through the creation of digital models and prototypes. Clean tech companies in North America, Europe. Japan and Singapore who can benefit from Autodesk solutions for Digital Prototyping are invited to apply to the Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program which provides up to £100,000* worth of software for only £42. With digital prototypes, clean tech innovators can explore and communicate ideas, test multiple concepts, and accelerate improvements, while supporting the reduction of potentially costly errors.
*Value is based on up to five commercial licences of each application.
About Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc., is a leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software. Customers across the manufacturing, architecture, building, construction, and media and entertainment industries – including the last 16 Academy Award winners for Best Visual Effects – use Autodesk software to design, visualise, and simulate their ideas. Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk continues to develop the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art software for global markets. For additional information about Autodesk, visit www.autodesk.com.
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