About us

THE INVENTOR

Paul Kouris

Mr. Kouris was born in 1955, is a Barrister, and was admitted to the Victorian Bar in 1981. He is a Member of The Royal Society of Science (Vic) and of The Australian Institute of Energy.

The idea for the “KOURIS ‘CENTRI-TURBINE’ GENERATOR” came to Mr. Kouris while he was completing his education in Law/Philosophy in the mid-1970s.His Eureka moment occurred whilst observing water spiraling down the sink. This was the time of the Arab Oil Embargo (OPEC) and the resulting energy crisis. It was also a time when the potential dangers of nuclear energy production were becoming more well known.

Contemplating the problem and seeking a possible solution, he one day conceived the ‘Centri-Turbine Generator’ and how it could potentially be applied to improve the operation of hydro-generator systems.

Paul with an early model of the turbine, circa 2000. Photo: Courtesy of the Australian - Science & Technology Section

Mr. Kouris completed articles at Galbally & O’Bryan after having worked in Greece as a Legal Consultant for a public company. He has been in continuous practice at the Victorian Bar since 1981, is also admitted to the N.S.W. Bar and by the High Court of Australia. He conducts a mixed practice, with a Civil Law emphasis, concentrating on Contract Law, Employment Law & Property Damage generally, the balance being in Criminal Law.

A Brief History

  • 1975
    sink
    In 1975 when completing his B.Juris LL.B, Paul Kouris watched a vortex form in a sink and had an instant understanding of how this natural vortex can be used to generate electricity.
  • 1998
    Vortex Turbine Patent Abstract
    In September 1998 the “KOURIS CENTRI TURBINE GENERATOR” received a Notice of Allowance for Letters Patent in the U.S.. The U.S. Patent was subsequently granted and published by the U.S.P.T.O. on 5th September, 2000.
  • 2004
    kalorama
    In 2004, the first proof-of-concept KCT turbine was installed and tested in Kalorama, Victoria. The unit had a 2m diameter vortex chamber, and produced 183W.
  • 2008
    marysville
    The first demonstration KCT unit is installed in Marysville, Victoria. The unit has a 2m diameter and produces enough electricity to power a conventional home, over 500W (12kWh/day) using only 110L/s, with a fall of 60cm.
  • 2012
    Mark2 Transportable launch
    The KCT Mark2 unit; the world's first transportable hydroelectric vortex turbine is officially launched and installed in Buxton, Victoria. The transportable unit is currently being patented to protect the project for a further 20 years.
  • 2015
    4
    The first commercial KCT unit is manufactured and installed in Porogia, Greece by the Exclusive Licensee, Kapa Lamda. Kourispower applies for over 60 patents for the KCT Mark2, securing the international mini hydro electricity market.
  • Today
    logo stretched
    Kourispower has Exclusive Licensees in Australia & New Zealand, Greece & India, with a Distributor for India, Canada & the USA. There were 18 Patents granted for the KCT Mark1, and currently there are 49 Patents Granted and 9 Patents Pending for the Mark2 transportable turbine around the world.

Breaking News & Chronology

View a brief collection of key breaking news and current developments on our blog, or alternatively download a detailed chronology of the key developments since 1975 (PDF).

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