Another added benefit is that this style of turbine funtions regardless of wind direction.

VAWTs ROCK THe HOUSE!!!

Great idea, but I would have liked to see more info on the economics of the turbine. The company's web site has none of this. Energy buyers don't adopt a technology because its cool or aesthetically pleasing. It has to be competitive.

One other drawback I foresee. Billboards are the most attractive in densely populated urban spaces while wind quality degrades in these same places. So, if it is attractive as a billboard, it will likely not perform as well as a generator, and vice versa.

Mark Brandon
Sustainable Log - News and Views for Socially Responsible Investors
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I believe the cylindrical design prevents the chopping up of birdies as well.

I love the design and feel. But scrap the advertising aspect. It only cheapens what is great idea. The more we allow commercial advertising to permeate our infrastructure, you will have city budget people trying to turn every piece of city street furniture or infrastructure into a money-making venture, which will eventually compromise the original purpose of the design.

Yeah baby...!
Love the concept - let's put on on top of every cell tower, radio tower, etc.

Mark, did you download the .pdf brochure? I believe this may be the info for which you're looking.

Love it - could be an energy generator and public art.

I've written to Blackpool Borough Council (http://www.visitblackpool.com/) and suggested that they invest in a few of these beauties for the Blackpool Illuminations. They're perfect as they'd offset the amount of CO2 produced by the illuminations, would fit right in with the illuminations and could be used as an educational tool for the 1000's of visitors young and old alike. Plus I know from experience that Blackpool, up on the Lancashire coast, is windy enough to take advantage of this scheme. Perhaps if we all wrote to them they'd sit up and take notice.

the light pollution people are going to have a conniption...

Light Pollution? Maybe. I am sure the LEDs can be timed and directed so they only bother an intended vict...er...audience. ;)

i was kidding!!! i relaly think there are other things blocking our starwatching skies, like streetlights, oiffice tower lights, those stupid opening nigt lights pointing up at the sky...

just razzing the light pollution peeps:p

Gdelius Turbines, the general name for all sorts of vertical wind turbines suffer from two big problems:

All the weight of the turbine rests on the main joint making them susceptible to break downs and difficult to service without major lifting equipment.

Also, because of weight consideration on the main joint, some Gdelius type wind turbines have trouble self starting in anything under a major gale.

Add to this that it isn't possible to scale them up to give megawatt levels of power.

It's easy to see how anyone who had to think about the real world plus/minus equation of these wind turbines might be less than enthusiastic.

Hi everyone,
I am a third year energy engg. student at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur.
I have designed a VAWT with NACA0015 blade.I wanted more info on the tower and assembly.As in, I wanted to know what should be the best way to erect it, like gear, the arrangement of connecting blades to shaft etc.
Could you please suggest me a way to do so?
Thank you.

Hi,
How can I know the cost and other details of this technology?
Bonnie from Montreal

i could give you all the details probably via email or something.
could you please contact me @
avkuvalekar@gmail.com or
kuvalekar.aditya.vijay@iitkgp.ac.in

are household units in the near horizon?
What are the costs involved? Is it expected to be a cost-effective technology for power generation?

The cost was about 25 000pounds sterling plus about 5000 puonds for installation. That's about as high priced electricity one can possibly get! Designed life was 25 years...I'd bet it would be tons cheaper to install any kind of real windfarm and buffer it with, say VRB-ESS or even hydrogen storage would be cheaper! Those revolution-turbines were pretty, I have to admit, but with that price the real revolution will happen in your wallet. They will have to give it a way lower price if they want their revolution...

That a good sing ,people are still inventing clean energy efficient products. I have used solar energy for past 3 years at my home and never regretted .But cost for this product is still a bit higher, then people can afforded .Also ,we don’t have to forget about thinks like global warming. I think that if you ignore global warming/cooling then i think that you would be giving up on an early warning system for all of mankind. Thank you very much for all your info. It is really great. when someone would share they info or knowledge with other people. I am doing now research for my dissertation on Green Energy