A California inventor has created a rival for wind turbines that is cheaper, quieter and more efficient. The WindWing dispenses with propellers in favor of parallel panels that look like stacked WWI plane wings stuck up on a pole. The panels work similarly by lifting and lowering with the wind.
From EcoGeek:
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From the Newburyport News:
..."We want to raise the level of technology and create something better," Kelley said. "This will bring us closer to reaching the political goals set to make more energy available."Kelley is already an experienced inventor. He created the rumble strips used on the sides of highways, the safety lights attached to floatation devices under airplane seats, and astronaut John Glenn's helmet....
From the Ventura County Star:
...A cheaper option
A utility-scale propeller turbine, with blades that can reach more than 40 meters in length and generate 1.8 megawatts of power, can run more than $1.5 million. Smaller, residential- or farm-sized turbines run from a few thousand to up to $80,000, according to the American Wind Energy Association.
Though it is still in the early stages of development, Kelley said the WindWing could cost as little as one-tenth of what it costs for a propeller turbine. Of course, the location of the installation and other factors could affect the cost.
Then there are the little pluses, such as the ability to mount solar cells on the wings, letting them do double-duty in power generation....
