Innovation has been driving the small wind power market more than the wind itself. Various innovative approaches have been found to use the energy generated from renewable resources. Among different approaches, one of the approaches is by Altaeros. An airborne wind turbine has been developed by Altaeros. The BAT (Buoyant Airborne Turbine) uses an inflatable and helium-filled shell for reaching high altitudes to acquire stronger winds and more consistency as compared to the traditional turbines that are mounted on towers.
The market for small wind power is booming with innovations. According to the research firm Allied Market Research, the global small wind power market is expected to reach $8.87 billion in revenue by 2022.
There are tethers with high strength for keeping the BAT afloat and transfer electricity to the ground. Similarly, there are various innovations in the world regarding small wind turbines. Semtive Energy has launched Nemoi wind turbine that enables people to produce and use energy on their own.
Another innovation has taken place in Luxembourg in which a small wind turbine is built with a combination of solar power, wind energy, and cloud technology. LEGO has also constructed a kit with eco-friendly materials and aims to spread awareness regarding sustainability and renewable energy.
Following are some of the innovative approaches to develop small wind turbines:
- As mentioned in the intro, an innovative small wind turbine has been manufactured by Semtive Energy. Its innovative Nemoi wind turbine has a small-sized metallic structure and three vertical blades that can spin around the central axis. This structure is capable of supply power to a household with wind speeds of 10 to 13 miles per hour. Moreover, this is made of 95% recyclable aluminum and can be assembled by a single person. Though there is an abundance of renewable sources of energy, there needs to be more accessibility.
- Nemoi’s creators have been trying to use wind energy optimally for small turbines. According to the CEO Ignacio Juarez, there is a loss of 40% energy from point of generation to the point of use. The solution is manufacturing the energy at the point of consumption. As the Nemoi wind turbine is set up, it begins to feed the grid. The goal of creators is to manufacture the amount of energy that is required to run the household. So, this wind turbine would enable the production of enough energy required for running the household and then consume it.
- Another innovation has been made in Luxembourg in which a small wind turbine is constructed with a combination of solar power, wind energy, and cloud technology. The innovative concept uses these elements for energy production in a grid network. Joseph Hess developed this concept in which an advanced prototype of a smart wind turbine was created. Then there was a need to update this prototype in electrical equipment for connecting it to the cloud network. Two years of research activities have been conducted and the functioning of each component has been analyzed. The results would help Hess’ company SWIRL (Smart Wind Integrated Renewables Lëtzëbuerg) to begin serial manufacturing of tiny turbines.
- Swirl’s hybrid wind turbine uses a combination of solar energy and wind along with adapting to its environment to begin an autonomous operation. Moreover, it will be equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) features. The performance of the wind turbine will be optimized with the help of an algorithm. According to the changes in wind, the turbine will gather data on various parameters such as humidity, temperature, and others. The equipment weighs only 20 kgs and has four-meter blades. There are nearly eight hours required for the production of energy. Moreover, the company has joined hands with Canadian Solar for the development of photovoltaic cells and the lithium battery has been brought from China.
- An expert set has been released by LEGO, a firm that aims to raise awareness regarding sustainability and renewable energy. This set will lead to the construction of mini wind turbines. LEGO has released its LEGO Creator Expert set that uses the eco-friendly elements to construct a fully functional mini wind turbine. Nearly 826 elements are combined to form a three-feet wind turbine that has adjustable wind blades. Moreover, the turbine contains a battery box, a power function medium motor, and two extension cords hidden in the structure. The firm joined hands with Vestas for installation nearly 65,000 wind turbines in nearly 80 countries. Tim Brooks, Vice President, Environmental Responsibility at LEGO Group, outlined that the company has been striving to create a positive impact on the environment along with using sustainable materials for products and packaging.
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