A TEAM of Isle of Wight inventors have designed a portable, wind-powered phone charger — and they need investors to make it a reality.

The GIGA turbine can be used to charge USB devices including phones, tablets, cameras, GPS trackers and smart watches, anywhere and at any time.

It has been designed by a team of inventors and engineers working right here on the Island — at Windward Engineering in Rookley.

The seven-strong team, aged in their late teens and early 20s, includes two engineering apprentices from the Isle of Wight College.

Chief technology officer Robert Kettlety said the turbine would enable people to keep their devices charged for weeks while hiking, biking, camping or travelling.

The trick, he said, was using a horizontal-axis wind turbine configured specifically to harness low-energy wind and convert it into electricity.

Former Sandown High School student Robert, 22, who lives in Shanklin, has always been a keen inventor and spent most of his high school years in the tech room — taking things apart and putting them back together to see how they worked.

Windward Engineering was established just two years ago to produce wind turbines for countries in the developing world.

Its other products are designed to provide power to marine installations and remote electrical equipment.

The GIGA turbine is the smallest turbine designed by the company.

Robert said: "We're pleased with the response to the GIGA turbine so far ­— we have pre-orders from around the world, including Japan."

The company has launched a Kickstarter appeal to raise the £20,000 needed to manufacture the GIGA turbine.

With less than a week to go before the deadline, they have already raised half the amount.

To support the project, visit

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1598080973/giga-a-portable-wind-turbine-for-usb-charging

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