A next-generation vertical wind turbine is set to be trialled south of Adelaide in a research collaboration between Flinders University and the South Australian start-up company VAWT-X Energy.
Supported by state and federal funding, the research team has constructed and tested a 6KW prototype that will be installed at a field site on the Fleurieu Peninsula in the coming weeks.
The new design could help increase the sustainability and energy operating costs of residential, agricultural and light industrial operations close to metropolitan areas, as well as large-scale offshore windfarms.
In the global transition to renewable energy, horizontal-axis wind turbines have led the way, leaving vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) in the background. However, the engineering experts at Flinders University are challenging this trend by working with the VAWT-X Energy design to develop innovative prototypes of large-scale VAWTs, set to be tested in real-world conditions in 2025.
The large standalone vertical turbine, designed with quiet operation and adaptability in mind, are shaping up to be just as efficient, if not more so, than their horizontal counterparts, says Dr Amir Zanj, head of the Advanced Wind Energy Technology research group based at Flinders University’s Tonsley campus.
“VAWTs can thrive across diverse environments, whether they’re set up as single units, part of urban infrastructure, or scaled up for larger wind farms,” says Zanj. “They offer advantages like high power density on wind farms, greater stability for offshore use, and adaptability to urban areas with shifting winds, all while being quieter and more economical to operate.”
VAWT-X Energy founder Gary Andrews says the new wind turbine aims to address some of the long-standing aerodynamic challenges.
“We believe our VAWTs are not only more efficient but also more accessible for applications like off-grid power and sustainable energy solutions for small businesses and farms,” said Andrews. “The design of these new VAWT-X Energy turbines solves some of the traditional barriers for Darrieus designs.”
With these advancements, researchers say VAWTs could soon offer a more sustainable, versatile alternative for renewable production in Australia and elsewhere. The low-maintenance two-bladed helical vertical axis wind turbine design comprises a rotor with a shaft connected to a brake and generator.
Along with private equity funding, research and development will continue next month with a new grant from the Australian Government. An AUD300,000 grant from the Department of State Development in South Australia also supports the project.
The article, Addressing VAWT Aerodynamic Challenges as the Key to Unlocking Their Potential in the Wind Energy Sector (2024) by Abolfazi Abdolahifar and Amir Zanj has been published in a special issue of Energies entitled Wind Turbine Aeromechanics: Theory, Methods and Applications,’ published October 11, 2024.
