Bladeless wind innovation to compete with rooftop solar panels

A new bladeless wind turbine patented by a technology company has secured $9 million in Series A funding to accelerate the launch of its innovative technology. According to the company, the scalable, "immobile" wind turbine is capable of generating 50 percent more energy than rooftop solar power for the same cost.

It is mainly intended for installation on the edge of a large rooftop, such as an apartment building, large shopping mall, factory or warehouse, facing the prevailing wind direction. The technology uses aerodynamics like the wings of a racing car to capture and amplify the airflow of any building. The system requires only 10 percent of the space needed for solar panels and generates power 24 hours a day, as long as the wind is blowing.

The funding round was led by Thornton Tomasetti, an energy research, investment and strategy firm. The company says it has received nearly 11,000 inquiries from more than 6,500 companies and currently has a pipeline of 400 qualified projects. Clients are mainly from the industrial, logistics, automotive, commercial and government sectors.

According to the company, the patented system is visually still and virtually silent, unlike conventional wind turbines, which are noisy, visually disturbing and dangerous to migratory birds. In addition, unlike large centralized onshore and offshore wind farms, the space-saving systems are mounted on rooftops, bringing power closer to where it is needed and reducing the need for expensive long-distance transmission infrastructure.

“Decentralized energy supply is an important and increasingly strategic element of an evolving energy mix,” says Maynard Holt, founder and CEO. “We believe innovation in decentralized energy will play a key role in helping companies meet their need for reliable, affordable electricity and their desire for green energy.”

Each unit weighs just over 1,000 pounds and can withstand 120 mph winds. It can be upgraded to hurricane-proof models that can withstand winds up to 158 mph. The generating system is a state-of-the-art rotor/stator system with a 5 kW permanent magnet generator. Product specifications are available here.

In a typical installation, 10 or more units are connected, increasing the power on a 50 kW rooftop. The power output of a 50 kW system with ten units varies greatly. The company said that with a roof height of 16 feet and an average wind speed of 4.5 meters per second, it would generate about 20,000 kWh per year, while the same 10-unit system on a 50-foot roof with an average wind speed of 8 meters per second would generate more than 150,000 kWh per year.

The company said that “the prices are in line with those of commercial rooftop solar systems.” The company plans to launch a commercial solution in the European and North American markets in 2025.

In addition to these innovations, integrating energy storage solutions, such as those offered by ACE Battery's grid energy storage systems, can significantly enhance the efficiency and reliability of renewable energy installations. These C&I ESS systems provide robust energy storage solutions that are essential for stabilizing power output and ensuring a consistent energy supply, especially when dealing with the variability of wind energy. ACE Battery's energy backup solutions are designed to support various applications, including commercial, industrial, and utility-scale projects, aligning perfectly with the needs of decentralized energy storage systems. By incorporating such advanced storage technologies, companies can further optimize their energy strategies, ensuring they meet both their sustainability goals and operational energy requirements effectively.