Innovative Floating and Flying Wind Turbines
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There is so much wind power in the world but how best to tap into it? Well, in most cases wind moves the fastest at higher altitudes so to capture the most possible with maximum material efficiency one option is to chase it up – and the Salsam flying wind turbines propose to do just that. Wish a mobile floating base on the water these flexible super-sized shafts with turbines along their length auto-adjust to produce maximum energy and are multiple times more effective than ground-based wind turbine systems using comparable amounts of materials.
Futuristic Wind Turbine Nano-Vent Skin
The nano-vent skin design is perhaps one of the most clever ways to make wind power as accessible and ubiquitous as humanly possible. In short, a system of myriad micro-turbines are woven together into a fabric that can be deployed in virtually any shape and size, curving or bending to the surfaces of buildings, with each tiny turbine generating a small amount of power for a huge net effect. This system can be layered onto existing surfaces thus integrating into urban fabrics without massive construction costs, additional materials or disturbance to current structures. In a way this brings wind power to competitive parity with solar power like never before – just like solar panels can be added to roofs retroactively so to can these wind turbine skins.
Dubai Wind Powered Rotating Skyscraper
Of course when it comes to technological innovation and sustainable experimentation there is always something interesting to be found under development in Dubai – and wind power is no exception. This strangely beautiful tower is designed to be ever-changing in its form due to independently wind-rotated floors. The shifting velocity of winds at each level insure that the views from within are constantly rotating and the appearance from the outside is always shifting on the skyline as well.
A slightly more conventional wind-powered approach is being taken with another building in Dubai though the design is no less visually stunning. The Bahrain World Trade Center features three massive wind turbines straddling giant bridges between the two tapering towers. Each of these nearly one-hundred-foot-in-diameter. Even the shapes of the towers themselves are designed to funnel winds at high speeds in between the towers to generate the maximum amount of power possible.
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Of course, wind power can be an end in and of itself rather than a means to generating power for something else. The amazing moving sculptures of Theo Jensen are beautiful works of art and engineering. The numerous articulated limbs of their deceivingly delicate-looking structures move in beautiful chorus to propel these strange Strandbeests (literally translated: “beach beasts”) without any external (non-wind) power source. More images and videos of his amazing art at the
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The spinning of the prayer while is supposed to be as religiously powerful as uttering an actual prayer. So while it is not clear to whom the benefit goes when a self-sustaining wind-powered prayer wheel is used one could, if spiritually inclined, imagine positive energy emanating from these clever devices each time a gust or breeze passes through.
- Headwind the Wind Powered Racing Bicycle
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The Headwind bicycle is the fulfillment of a young boy’s dream. After 40 years of imagining his creation a German professor was able to construct his fantasy vehicle – a low-riding, wind-powered, three-wheeled, multi-seater racing vehicle.
- Ventomobile Wind Powered Racing Vehicle
Kind of like a dynamic, land sail the giant wind turbine mounted on this slim but elegant vehicle swivels and allows it to drive in various directions regardless of the direction of the wind itself.
- Maglev High Efficiency Wind Turbine
One of the biggest drawbacks in harvesting wind power is the energy lost to friction between moving parts. Using a system of magnets to reduce friction and essentially hover the rotating part of the turbine the above design is not only more energy efficient but it also occupies far less space than a conventional spread-out wind farm. Due to their ease of movement they can also rotate and generate power at incredibly low speeds compared to conventional turbines in wind farms.
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With all the emphasis on massive power-generating wind turbines it is important to remember that wind energy can also operate on a much smaller scale. Take this wind-powered cell phone charger for example. While perhaps not quite as portable as your typical charger it would be easy to set one of these up at home and save a little energy and money each time you charge your phone – not to mention that you won’t need to be near an outlet to use it and could also therefore take it on trips anywhere.
- Record Breaking Wind Powered Vehicle
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The ultra-sleek Greenbird has been making repeated attempts to break records with its innovative airplane-like design. Using lateral ‘wings’ to stabilize it on the ground the vertical hard wing-like sail is designed to drive the vehicle at record speeds across the Western salt desert flats. Their next attempt is set to take place sometime in 2009
- Future Wind and Electric Hybrid Car
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The Formula Zero Racer by Mercedes Benz oozes class and style. However, for all its sleek appearances it still relies to some extent on electricity (sustainably derived, though, of course) to augment its wind-powered capabilities. Nonetheless, it may be one of the first attempts to blend luxurious elegance with eco-efficiency on this scale.
One of the other problems with wind power is the ever-changing urban environment itself – from residents who move locations to building demolitions, constructions and disasters. One small solution that, if applied widely, could make a big difference would be the introduction of smaller removable wind-power generators that can be attached and detached easily and moved from one location to another as needed without much effort.
- Flying Wind Power Generator Designs
Just a single percent of the jet-stream winds far above the Earth could provide power for the entire planet – but how to harvest that vast untapped power source? There are multiple design solutions that have been put forward but the key, of course, is finding what can easily, safely and most efficiently float high in the sky – and the jury is still out on just the right solution.
Leave it to the Japanese to blend efficiency, style and technical innovation in a great new green product. This Loopwing turbine design operates with little noise or vibration, making it perfect for residential applications, and also can generate power at incredibly slow speeds. Who knows, maybe soon wind turbines will find their place in yards around the world right next to where old TV antennas and later satellite dishes once held places of honor.
While many have risen to the challenge of using wind power in innovative and ostentatious ways, on large-scale building or sleek-and-fast vehicles, one of the biggest obstacles remaining to widespread wind power use is at the smallest and most local of scales: the individual home. Designs like this one that operate with low noise levels, at low speeds, for low budgets and can take advantage of omnidirectional winds are making wind power more and more accessible to everyday houses and individualized applications.
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