Vertical Axis Wind Turbines VAWT. These have been around for a while but no one design or company has really taken off.
The most efficient ones are generally shaped like a helix so that it spins no matter what direction the wind is blowing. One significant problem with the standard large windmill design is they only work well if the wind is blowing hard and steadily in one direction. There are places with those conditions but they are not exactly abundant.
The VAWT work on a different kind of wind. They could be effective on a small scale and could be owned privately like solar panels. The other probably more untactful use would be to put them on the top and sides of skyscrapers.
As anyone who has stood on a NYC rooftop can tell you, the wind coming up from the street is srong and constant so attaching turbines could ease the electric demand where it is most needed.
Filed under: Energy, Wind Power | Tagged: alternative energy, Efficiency, Wind Farms, Wind Power | 9 Comments »
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