Wind energy, both onshore and offshore, is going to play a big part in the world’s transition to renewable energy. When we think of wind energy, usually the first thing that pops up in our mind is huge wind turbines against a bright blue sky. In fact, most wind energy projects make use of conventional wind turbines with blades to generate renewable energy.
However, there are some renewable energy startups walking down a different path. Instead of wind turbines with blades, they use an innovative design which does not involve any blades. In this guide, I ranked and reviewed the top 5 bladeless wind energy startups in 2023.
- Vortex Bladeless
- Luvside
- IceWind
- World Wide Wind
- New World Wind
A typical wind turbine comprises three blades, the majority of which are composed of fibreglass. Because winds are less turbulent and more easily caught at higher elevations, the typical modern land-based wind turbine has blades that are over 52 metres long and a steel tower that is over 30 metres tall. Using the aerodynamic force generated by the rotor blades, which function similarly to a helicopter rotor, it converts wind energy into electricity.
The rotor begins to rotate when wind blows over the blade. A shaft and a set of gears that speed up the rotation and enable a physically smaller generator are used to link the rotor to the generator. Electricity is produced as a result of the conversion of aerodynamic force into generator rotation.
Bladeless wind turbines work similarly, but without the blades. Currently, this design generates less electricity compared to the conventional one, but it requires less maintenance, is safer, and is silent.
What are the Top 5 Bladeless Wind Energy Startups in 2023?
My top picks are Vortex Bladeless, Luvside, IceWind, World Wide Wind and New World Wind.
1. Vortex Bladeless
Vortex Bladeless is a Spanish startup which is developing this innovative wind turbine which looks totally NSFW. The wind turbine is based on similar wind conditions, materials, and installations as the wind turbines we are all familiar with, but it lacks blades, gears, or shafts.
Vortex devices are light cylindrical machines which oscillate perpendicular to the wind stream by the Vortex Shedding phenomena, creating an aeroelastic resonance in which energy can be harnessed from the wind. Because of how they operate, they require very little maintenance, are safer, quieter, and wildlife-safe, opening up new opportunities for wind generation in urban and residential areas.
This technology is an alternative with drastically different properties that might widen the possibilities for wind energy on all scales, from small-scale generation to large-scale.
Visit their website for more information.
2. Luvside
LuvSide is a German wind energy startup that develops, builds, and sells small vertical axis small wind turbines to businesses, private owners, and communities. The business aims to supply businesses and individuals in rural settings, windy regions, and coastal locations with independent and sustainable energy.
Since its founding in 2014, the firm has collaborated with companies like Siemens and Vonk, placed turbines in nations like Germany, the Netherlands, and Saudi Arabia, and worked in metropolitan areas, natural preservation areas, and onshore and offshore locations of the North Sea.
Visit their website for more information.
3. IceWind
Iceland-based IceWind is a new wind energy company. The Freya is a vertical axis wind turbine that the team is creating for use with or without a grid. These dependable, long-lasting turbines boost owners’ energy independence on or off the grid and deliver electricity at low wind speeds with no maintenance. When owners need electricity the most, during breezes, blizzards, or hurricanes, The Freya uses unmatched material selection and inventive blade application. The IceWind team created the Freya to generate dependable power while appearing like a work of moving art by combining aesthetics with a carefully calculated design.
Visit their website for more information.
4. World Wide Wind
A Norwegian startup called World Wide Wind is introducing counter-rotating vertical axis turbines, which are a substantial advancement over the current VAWT technology. The CRVT solution from World Wide Wind addresses some of the drawbacks of the existing VAWT technology and is anticipated to outperform the HAWT in most, if not all, criteria. The scalable counter rotating vertical wind turbine design and technology developed by World Wide Wind represents the fundamental components of future wind turbine design and will considerably increase the feasibility of wind power in the future.
The design may seem strange, even alien, at first glance. It is, however, actually very well suited for offshore floating wind. The wind turbine is slanted with the wind and features two turbines that rotate counterclockwise (imagine sail boats). Compared to traditional three-blade wind turbines, it has a lot less moving parts and requires less maintenance.
The wind turbine is a high potential solution that can be easily erected and scaled up because it is expandable to 40MW and 400m in height.
Visit their website for more information.
5. New World Wind
What’s better than a tree? The answer is a tree with leaves and petals that can generate clean energy. This is what New World Wind is developing. The wind energy startup, based in France, offers solutions that combine high technology with smart design, micro wind turbines with solar petals.
The company boasts three innovative products, elegant and completely silent, that can seamlessly fit in both urban and natural environments, namely the WindBush, the WindTree and the Modular Tree.
The WindBush is composed of Solar petals as well as Aeroleafs to provide as much energy as possible without taking up a lot of space. The WindTree has a more totemic design, and is already a star asset for companies and communities that want to highlight their engagement in a greener future. The Modular Tree has 3 to 5 trunks, from 18 to 30 Aeroleafs with or without Solar petals. The tree can be personalized according to your electrical needs and budget.
As a bonus, for every WindTree or WindBush or Modular Tree purchased, New World Wind gets 10 trees planted and will give you a certificate of your tree.
Visit their website for more information.
Summary
A lot of work still needs to be done to improve the bladeless wind turbine design before it can become mainstream. Nevertheless, it is a promising climate technology that we should be paying attention to.
