Wind Harvest, a California-based startup, is revolutionizing the wind power generation industry with its innovative vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) design. The company’s CEO and co-founder, Kevin Wolf, believes that wind near the ground is a greatly underused resource that can help utilities meet rising electricity demand. Unlike traditional horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWT) that operate at heights of 200-500 feet, Wind Harvest’s turbines are designed to operate at a maximum height of 90 feet, allowing them to thrive in turbulent and shifting wind directions.
The Wind Harvest turbines are designed to complement existing HAWT wind farms, potentially doubling their output. By locating the turbines in pairs, just three feet apart, the airflow between them accelerates, enhancing electricity production. The company has used code from the Department of Energy’s Sandia National Laboratory to engineer and evaluate their designs, eliminating known weaknesses in VAWTs and creating a durable and easy-to-make design.
The first commercial installation of Wind Harvest turbines is set to take place on the island of St. Croix, where 20 turbines will be constructed to produce 3000 megawatt hours of power annually. The turbines will be modified to withstand Category 5 hurricanes and will be built entirely in the United States using steel and aluminum. The company has also been granted several patents for its design and has four more pending.
Wind Harvest’s technology has the potential to increase the efficiency of wind farms without requiring new installations. The turbines can be installed beneath existing HAWTs, taking advantage of the disturbed wind that would otherwise be wasted. This approach can also reduce the visual impact of wind farms and allow for agricultural uses to continue between rows of turbines. Additionally, the company’s use of wooden, monopole towers can reduce the amount of embodied carbon in their projects.
The concept of VAWTs is not new, dating back to the 1920s when a French engineer patented an eggbeater-shaped design. However, the technology was limited by its efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Wind Harvest’s innovative design has overcome these limitations, making VAWTs a viable option for the utility market. With the company’s focus on commercialization and scaling up its technology, Wind Harvest is poised to make a significant impact in the wind power generation industry.