SheerWind Inc. developed its patented INVELOX technology to increase wind speed to facilitate generation of clean energy in areas where there had previously been insufficient wind-speed to make traditional column-mounted wind turbines spin.
Read the full auction details here. The bid submission deadline is May 16, 2018.
The technology was designed to capture and funnel wind to increase the wind-speed and harvest energy from multiple turbines housed safely near the ground, while simultaneously reducing the danger to birds posed by the traditional column-mounted wind turbines.
Heritage Global Patents & Trademarks was recently appointed by the US.. Bankruptcy Court, District of Minnesota to auction the Intellectual Property of the former SheerWind Corp. The Intellectual Property consists of SheerWind’s worldwide portfolio of wind-turbine Granted Patents and Patent Applications. The portfolio will be sold as one auction lot to the highest bidder, subject to Bankruptcy Court confirmation.
“This is a perfect example of a novel technology living on after a corporate shutdown and ideally being purchased by an entity capable of realizing the full inherent potential of this environmentally friendly wind-power generation technology,” said Ross Dove, CEO of Heritage Global.
The substantial portfolio includes Granted Patents and Patent Applications from patent offices around the world including: USA, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, India, Mexico, Denmark, the European Patent Office and the World Patent Office.
“This is an exceptional opportunity for entrepreneurs to either add to their existing Alternative Power technologies or to jump-start their entry into Wind Energy with the benefit of bypassing the time and cost required for research and development as well as the costs of the patent process itself,” said Doug Berman, Director of Heritage Global Patents & Trademarks.
There are many (potential) positives to this concept, including lower maintenance costs (the moving parts are on the ground, so no need to paly someone to climb a tall turbine), less wind disruption sensitivity (you can place more units in close proximity), and lower complaints (less bird kills, less low frequency vibration and “shadow flicker” complaints, less ice throw issues, etc).
I believe the technology is sound but the Sheerwind design was all wrong. with some smart re-engineering it could be really great! The changes require several/many changes and improvements, especially the scale of the device. It was a monstrosity.
It can work. I tested the concept 20 years ago, but never had the funds to commercialize it.
Energy in wind goes up cubed with the windspeed. So a gentle breeze contains little or no energy that’s worth harvesting (as sailing enthousiasts can tell you- they stay at home with slight breezes).
The fact that a technology gets patented says ever so much about the principle and next to nothing about the practical usability.
Did anyone really think this would work? Gentle breezes a few feet off the ground cannot be turned into useful energy. Anyone?