A design that draws on jet engine technology could halve the cost of generating electricity from wind.

Wind jet: A rendering of a new turbine design, which can increase the energy captured from wind.
Credit: FloDesign Wind Turbine

A Design for Cheaper Wind Power

VAWT Vertical Axis Wind Turbine / Understand the advantages and disadvantages of VAWTs

Vertical Axis Wind Turbines are not as efficient as the more common Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines, but they do offer benefits in low wind situations. They also tend to be safer, easier to build, can be mounted close to the ground, and handles turbulence much better. The commonest VAWT is a Savonius VAWT which is an extended version of an anemometer (wind speed measuring tool). VAWTs can offer up to 30% efficiency and they work equally well no matter which direction the wind is coming from.

Types of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

There are two main types of VAWT - the Darrieus which uses lift forces generated by aerofoils, and the Savonius which uses drag forces (pictured above and mentioned earlier). Click on the links in this paragraph to find out more about each type of wind turbine. A variant of the Darrieus type wind turbine is the Giromill.

Buying a Commercial VAWT

VAWT Wind Turbines are not the easiest thing to find on the internet, however here is a link to a page describing one place where you can Buy a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) , or click here to find out about one UK-based commercial VAWT QR5 Vertical Axis Wind Turbine from Quiet Revolution.

VAWT Resources

Below are a collection of links to useful online resources for anyone who would like to better understand Vertical Axis Wind Turbines:
Wind Stuff Now - Lenz Turbine
Micro wind power with a Savonius rotor
The Savonius Super Rotor

Buy A VAWT Vertical Wind Turbine / Understand the advantages and disadvantages of VAWTs

Vertical Axis Wind Turbines are far less common that the standard wind mill type wind turbine. However for many inner city and domestic applications VAWT's are far better suited to the prevailing conditions (low levels of turbulent wind).

Vertical Axis Wind Turbines are more difficult to find and purchase than their horizonal axis brothers, however there are suppliers out there which offer affordable VAWT packages.

Pictured above is a 500 Watt, 24 Volt VAWT Darrieus variant known as a Giromill with three vertical aerofoils. Maximum power output is 600 Watts with its 4 foot diameter aluminium rotor generating 20.8A of current at 24 Volts. Start up wind speed is 3 m/s (around 7mph), and the rated wind speed is 13 m/s (29mph). The turbine will operate in winds of up to 80mph and at up to 600rpm. Power is generated from a PMA (Permanent Magnet Alternator). Total weight is 35kg.
This system comes complete with a hybrid charge regulator for solar and wind power is is available from Rome, Italy for around £800 including UK delivery.

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Modular Architectural Wind Microturbines




Double Helix Wind Turbine

Exciting times for small wind turbine makers: wind turbines that can be used by households

Kazenagasukujira, which literally translates into "the whale that lets the wind flow": 10kW Wind Power Generator
Joint Development partner: Nikko Company (production of china, residential environment equipment, and ceramics)

Sales collaborator: Nikko Company, Daiwa Energy Co., Ltd.

It can generate power efficiently even at low wind speed, since the wind turbine rotates at a wind speed of 2.5m/s, and captures the wind direction accurately with its wind vane.

The photograph is of Kazenagasukujira designed after the blue whale.

Windspire Turbine