Tag Archives: wind turbine

A Wind Turbine Is Repurposed Into A Sustainable Tiny Home Of The Future

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Do you know what a ‘nacelle’ is? It is a streamlined container that sits on top of a wind turbine and holds various components like the generator and gearbox. Wind turbines are known for being pretty huge, but a nacelle is big enough to live in! European energy company Vattenfall teamed with Superuse Studios intending to repurpose decommissioned turbines. They’ve explored these old machines, creating a tiny home inside a nacelle. The tiny home is pretty cute and cozy and is being displayed at the Dutch Design Week 2020 in Eindhoven this month.

Designer: Vattenfall x Superuse Studios

They chose a nacelle from a Vestas V80 2-MW turbine that was running at the Austria Gols wind farm for almost twenty years. It was brought to the ground from its height of 328 ft. The nacelle is 13 ft wide, 32 ft long, and 10 ft high. It includes almost 376 sq ft of living space and is one of the smaller nacelles found today. If they pick a nacelle from a newer turbine, it will be larger, providing more living space. Superuse teamed up with a bunch of partner firms to outfit Nestle with electricity, plumbing, and insulation.

The shell is built from glass fiber-reinforced plastics, which makes it durable but not the most recyclable material, hence repurposing it was a good move. The roof is topped with four solar panels that provide 1,800-W peak power, which is sufficient for the home. The little house also includes a solar-powered water boiler for showering and washing, as well as a heat pump for the AC. A decentralized ventilation system with wall-mounted panels and an EV charging point has been integrated as well.

The interior is warm and wooden, equipped with a bathroom, kitchenette, and a combined sleeping and living area. For the Dutch Design Week 2024, the home has been incorporated with second-hand furniture, although it is sustainably produced. A table built from recycled material obtained from an old wind turbine blade is included in the space as well.

Jos de Krieger, partner at Superuse said. “At least ten thousand of this generation of nacelles are available, spread around the world. Most of them have yet to be decommissioned. This offers perspective and a challenge for owners and decommissioners. If such a complex structure as a house is possible, then numerous simpler solutions are also feasible and scalable.”

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Stay Cool Anywhere With the Ultimate Portable Air Duster Fan for Any Adventure

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Imagine being in the great outdoors, basking in nature’s beauty, but also sweating profusely and feeling sluggish under the oppressive sun. You might not believe it, but your body definitely feels both days and nights getting hotter. Portable fans are the rage these days, but many of them require you to carry large bottle-sized contraptions that sacrifice your comfort just to beat the heat. That’s where ZERA MAX comes in, a revolutionary portable air duster fan designed to keep you cool and comfortable no matter where your adventures take you. Meticulously crafted to seamlessly combine power, portability, and stunning design, this handheld turbine delivers the wind you need to keep cool and look cool anytime. Whether you’re an avid camper, a dedicated hiker, or someone just looking to conquer the summer heat, the ZERA MAX promises to bring indoor comfort to your outdoor experiences.

Designer: ZERA

Click Here to Buy Now: $89 $159 (44% off). Hurry, deal ends soon! Raised over $106,000.

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What sets the ZERA MAX apart at first glance is its sleek, ergonomic, and pocket-sized design. Crafted from aluminum alloy, this fan is lightweight yet incredibly durable, making it an indispensable companion for any outdoor activity. Its modern and minimalist aesthetic is a visual delight, ensuring it doesn’t just function well but looks good doing it. The convenience of its compact build cannot be overstated – you can effortlessly slip it into your backpack, hiking gear, or beach bag, giving you the freedom to carry it wherever you go, unlike other fans that are as large as water bottles. This blend of style and practicality ensures that relief from the heat is always within arm’s reach.

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The relief is delivered by a small yet powerful wind turbine with a top speed of 150,000 rpm. With a simple sliding button, you can customize the speed that you need, whether it’s a gentle breeze for a mellow afternoon or a strong gust to keep the sweltering midday heat at bay. All the information you need is available at a glance on the handle’s digital display, whether it’s battery charge or speed. It’s these thoughtful features that distinguish the ZERA MAX as a versatile tool, perfect for any situation you might find yourself in.

But the ZERA MAX isn’t just a fan – it’s a powerhouse of functionality. Picture this: you’ve just reached your camping spot, and with a quick switch, your fan doubles as an air duster to swiftly blow away dirt from your equipment. It’s a dream come true for outdoor enthusiasts who often have to deal with dusty environments and gear. It can also function as a vacuum, an air mattress and ball inflator, an eyeglasses cleaner, and more. All these functions are made possible with a variety of interchangeable nozzles that quickly snap and stay on thanks to a strong rare-earth magnet on the fan’s nose. These features are not just convenient but essential, ensuring your gear stays clean and functional, allowing you to focus on enjoying your adventure.

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With such a powerful wind turbine in your pocket, the last thing you’d want is for your portable air duster fan to die after just half an hour of use. Thanks to a large 4,000mAh battery in the handle, that’s never a worry and you can enjoy a comfortable breeze for up to 3 hours. And when it does come to juice up the ZERA MAX, its fast USB-C charging makes sure you’ll be up and ready again in no time. It is designed to keep up with your energetic lifestyle, providing uninterrupted comfort throughout your outdoor excursions. With its harmonious fusion of innovative design, exceptional functionality, and versatile adaptability, this handheld wind turbine redefines what a portable fan can be. Whether you’re embracing the outdoors, trying to survive a hot day, setting up a mattress, or simply cleaning your laptop, the ZERA MAX is ready to revolutionize your adventures, wherever the wind blows, especially if the wind isn’t blowing at all.

Click Here to Buy Now: $89 $159 (44% off). Hurry, deal ends soon! Raised over $106,000.

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Ultra-Portable Wind Turbine Generator Lets You Fast-Charge Your Devices Anywhere with Green Energy

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We have become so dependent on our electronic appliances and devices that we start to panic when the grid suddenly goes down. While solar power generators now offer a more sustainable alternative to the gasoline-chugging relics of the past, it’s a different story when you’re out in the wild with the sun nowhere to be seen. Of course, we can’t control the weather, but we can be prepared for any situation, including when things don’t go according to our perfect plans. Just because the sun isn’t around doesn’t mean you have to stress over the lack of power. With this ultra-portable 50W power generator, you can have the confidence and peace of mind to stay outdoors longer, thanks to the power of the all-present wind.

Designer: Aurea Technologies Inc.

Click Here to Buy Now: $356 $571 ($215 off). Hurry, only 6/74 left! Raised over $273,000.

Solar energy isn’t the only renewable energy source available. In fact, while solar panels are more popular for residential or personal uses, wind power is considered to be more reliable for wide-scale industrial use. Unfortunately, conventional wind turbines are neither small nor portable, making them inconvenient to use in more common, everyday scenarios. That is exactly what Shine 2.0 fixes, harnessing the power of the wind to power your outdoor adventures while enjoying the conveniences of modern technologies in a compact package that’s just the size of a large water bottle.

Shine 2.0 can generate up to 50W of power day or night, whether it’s sunny, cloudy, foggy, or even rainy. Its USB-C PD port outputs up to 75W to fast charge, smartphones, eReaders, tablets, and more. It can also power 12V devices, including laptops, and drones. Worried about a dry spell ruining your outdoor fun? The Shine 2.0 can generate as well as store power in its internal 12,000 mAh battery so you can use the oblong-shaped power generator as a power bank even after the wind has died down. And because of the wind’s cubic relationship with power, when the wind is twice as strong, the Shine 2.0 can generate eight times more power as well.

Shine 2.0 is designed for versatility. Are some low structures getting in the way of your wind? Shine 2.0’s 6-foot mount accessory raises it high above potential obstructions to capture more wind and maximize power generation. By using Shine 2.0’s custom adapter accessory, you can even charge power stations from EcoFlow, Bluetti, Jackery, and others. Sealed and weatherproof with an IP54 rating, Shine 2.0 is ready to face any condition to help you enjoy the great outdoors or even provide emergency backup power during an outage.

New to this second-gen wind turbine generator is a Bluetooth-connected app that lets you see all the critical stats like wind speed and power output without even having to get close. Weighing only 3 lbs and small enough to be stashed in a backpack water bottle compartment, Shine 2.0 offers unbeatable value in providing power on the go, wherever and whenever you need it. With this sleek, compact, and ultra-portable wind turbine, you no longer need to stress over surviving a few days away from power outlets, allowing you to enjoy the liberating experience of generating power from the wind.

Click Here to Buy Now: $356 $571 ($215 off). Hurry, only 6/74 left! Raised over $273,000.

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Largest floating wind platform sets on voyage to offshore destination

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The past few decades we’ve seen a lot of countries look for more sustainable (and safer) sources of energy as large parts of their respective populations continue to use a lot of power for various purposes. Wind energy have been an option for some and so we continue to see a lot of companies developing various types of wind turbines to help power their respective places.

Designer: Mingyang Smart Energy

OceanX is one of the wind turbines that has been making a lot of noise lately as it is now the world’s largest single-capacity floating wind platform. It has finally started its voyage from Guangzhou, China and is expected to reach its final destination of the Qingzhou IV Offshore Wind Farm in Yangjiang, Gangdong by August 14, traveling at 191 nautical miles. Aside from its sheer size, the dual-rotor design and its other technological powers has been catching the attention of those interested in sustainable energy.

The Y-shaped floating platform is made up of two MySE16.6 wind turbines on its upper V-shaped structure, with the entire thing weighing 15,000 tonnes. The blade diameters of the wind turbines are at 597 feet and it can withstand wind of up to 161 mph. Since it has a downward poster and a single-point mooring, the rotors can bend without damaging the supporting structure so it can stand up against extreme conditions like harsh winds and heavy waves.

While there are some reports saying that the OceanX will be able to generate power even in a hurricane, that remains to be seen as formulas of wind turbines in general would say otherwise. The company says that it is expected to generate 54 million kWh annually which would be enough to power 30,000 families (those with 3 members each) for an entire year.

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Airiva: Modular Rotary Turbine Walls Revolutionize Urban Wind Energy

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Since introducing the concept for an energy-generating wall in 2021, designer Joe Doucet has been tirelessly working to turn this innovative idea into reality. Now, with the launch of Airiva, a modular rotary wind turbine wall designed for urban installations, this vision is closer than ever to being realized. Airiva promises to revolutionize how cities and infrastructures harness wind energy, bringing sustainable power generation directly to the places where people live and work.

Designer: Joe Daucet

Wind energy has been instrumental in reducing global dependence on fossil fuels. However, the adoption of wind turbines for residential and commercial use has been slow, largely due to their intrusive designs. Airiva addresses this challenge by combining functionality with aesthetic appeal.

The wind turbine wall is composed of multiple rotary blades that spin independently, driving a generator to produce clean, renewable electricity. This modular and scalable solution is tailored for urban and suburban environments, allowing it to augment or coexist with other power generation methods. The electricity generated can be used on-site, stored, or fed back into the grid. The system is not only efficient but also quiet and safe, making it suitable for a wide range of environments. Potential installation sites include municipal and public facilities, commercial buildings, transportation networks, and coastal areas, among others.

Airiva places a strong emphasis on sustainability. The manufacturing process aims to use at least 80% post-consumer and recycled materials, aligning with circular economy principles and minimizing environmental impact. This commitment to sustainability is a fundamental aspect of Airiva’s design and manufacturing strategy.

One of Airiva’s key strengths is its flexibility. The system’s modular design allows it to be easily transported and scaled to meet specific site requirements. Multiple units can be networked together, creating a flexible, clean energy system that can adapt to various use cases. Additionally, Airiva is designed to complement other distributed energy technologies, providing a versatile alternative that can enhance existing installations.

Airiva’s smart technology enables remote monitoring of system and site information, offering visibility and control over geographically dispersed installations. Each unit consists of two segments, each measuring 2100mm in length and height and 1050mm in depth, along with an end hub unit for controls, communications, and power management. This design facilitates global transport and distribution, ensuring that the system can be deployed wherever it is needed.

The initial idea in 2021 envisioned a wall of 25 vertical-axis turbines with a total peak power output of 10 kilowatts. While the intermittent nature of wind means that actual energy production can vary, the refined Airiva system is expected to produce approximately 2,200 kWh annually per unit. While this may not cover the entire energy needs of an average home, it can significantly reduce energy bills. Larger installations, such as those on commercial campuses or transportation hubs, can harness more power, demonstrating the system’s scalability.

Currently in the prototyping stage, Airiva plans to begin customer pilots in the latter half of this year, with orders expected to open in 2025. Although specific figures have yet to be disclosed, Airiva’s targeted Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) aims to be competitive both domestically and internationally against other small-scale distributed energy resources. Upcoming pilots will be crucial in validating these claims and demonstrating the system’s effectiveness in real-world conditions.

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Bladeless wind turbines could be the future for wind-energy, bringing them to homes

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Imagine a wind turbine, but not as you know it. Instead of the familiar towering structures with rotating blades, picture a compact, hexagonal grid resembling a honeycomb, perched atop urban buildings or integrated into existing structures. This is the essence of Katrick’s design – a radical departure from traditional wind turbines, both in form and function. These turbines harness the power of wind through oscillating aerofoils, a far cry from the spinning blades we’re used to.

Designer: Katrick Technologies

As companies rush to figure out better and more effective solutions for harnessing sustainable energy (while the world grapples with the migration to these energies), the Glasgow-based startup, is making waves (or should I say, catching them?) with their innovative bladeless honeycomb wind turbines. Unlike the towering, rotary-blade turbines that dominate our landscapes, Katrick Technologies’ creation is a breath of fresh air in both design and functionality.

At the heart of this technology are the aerofoils, the unsung heroes of Katrick’s design. They work by capturing wind energy and converting it into mechanical oscillations. These oscillations are then transformed into electricity, providing a greener energy solution. This method not only captures lower levels of wind, making it more efficient in less windy conditions, but also makes the turbines more suited for urban environments, where space is at a premium and wind levels can be lower.

The design philosophy of Katrick Technologies is rooted in creating eco-friendly, innovative engineering solutions. While the firm is relatively new, it’s already carving a niche for itself in the renewable energy sector. Traditional wind turbines, with their considerable land and maintenance requirements, often pose logistical and financial challenges. In contrast, Katrick’s honeycomb turbines offer a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative, especially in urban landscapes where space is limited.

But it’s not all sunshine and breezes. Bladeless turbines, including Katrick’s design, have faced some skepticism. Critics, including those from the MIT Technology Review, have pointed out that despite their lower cost and environmental footprint, bladeless turbines might not be as efficient in energy generation as their traditional counterparts. However, Katrick’s innovative approach might just tip the scales. According to the company, just 1 kilometer of their roadside panels could charge a significant number of electric vehicles or power hundreds of homes annually.

Moreover, the design’s safety and environmental features can’t be overlooked. The slower-moving aerofoils in the honeycomb structure are likely less hazardous to birds than traditional turbines. Plus, their unobtrusive design, small footprint, and minimal environmental impact make them an attractive option for urban settings.

Katrick’s wind turbines being tested at Glasgow Airport.

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Tree with Solar Panels and Wind Turbines gives Nature-Inspired Clean Energy

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In the quest for sustainable energy solutions, New World Wind has unveiled its revolutionary Aeroleaf Hybrid technology—a micro-wind turbine shaped like a tree, combining the forces of wind and solar energy to provide a clean and unlimited power source. This innovative approach not only meets the growing demand for electricity but also addresses environmental concerns associated with traditional energy production methods.

Designer: New World Wind

The conventional methods of electricity production, often reliant on burning fossil fuels, contribute to environmental degradation and climate change. New World Wind’s Aeroleaf Hybrid offers a compelling alternative by seamlessly integrating wind and solar power. The tree-shaped turbines are equipped with rotating leaves that capture wind energy, complemented by solar panels at the base, ensuring a continuous and efficient energy production process.

New World Wind draws inspiration from the beauty of nature, ensuring that the Aeroleaf Hybrid blends harmoniously with both urban and green landscapes. Unlike conventional wind turbines and solar panels, these tree-shaped energy generators appear as if they naturally grew in their surroundings. This unique design feature allows for a more aesthetically pleasing integration into various environments.

New World Wind’s commitment to green energy is evident in its global installations. The first Aeroleaf Hybrid, welcomed in Birmingham, UK, stands tall on a hill, showcasing its ability to harness wind and solar power in unison. The collaboration with Tom Tits Experiment, a science museum in Sweden, further emphasizes the technology’s versatility and its potential to power significant institutions with clean electricity.

A variant of the Aeroleaf Hybrid without Solar Panels

Recognizing the diverse energy needs of consumers, New World Wind offers three variations of the Aeroleaf Hybrid—Wind Tree, Wind Palm, and Wind Bush. The Wind Tree, with its numerous rotating leaves, is suitable for larger spaces and can even serve as a multifunctional lamp post or charging station for electric vehicles. The Wind Palm and Wind Bush cater to different scales, providing flexibility for installation in various settings, from public gardens to smaller neighborhoods.

New World Wind’s Aeroleaf (Hybrid) technology is based on a patented micro-wind turbine with a leaf-shaped double blade and a vertical axis. This synchronous micro-generator with permanent magnets allows for installation in diverse locations, including rooftops, terraces, pylons, and low-wind areas. The technology, with a single Aeroleaf generating a minimum of 300 watts, has already been deployed in 130 locations worldwide, spanning countries like Spain, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Portugal, Nigeria, France, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.

Apart from its functional benefits, the Aeroleaf Hybrid also offers a customizable experience. Consumers can choose from various color options, allowing the turbines to seamlessly integrate with their surroundings. This level of personalization enhances the technology’s appeal and further encourages the adoption of green energy solutions.

By mimicking the elegance of nature, this technology not only provides a sustainable energy source but also exemplifies the potential for beauty and functionality to coexist in our pursuit of a greener tomorrow.

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