Vertical Axis Wind Turbines
Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs) can be either small or large. Regardless, they are not the mainstay of the wind industry. Very few exist and even fewer than those work. For many years, I kept these pages as subcategory of small wind turbines. However, this arrangement no longer worked well with the current web site design so I’ve put them under the main category of wind turbines even though most serious work on the technology ceased years if not decades ago.
Chapter 6. Vertical-Axis and Darrieus Wind Turbines, of my book Wind Energy for the Rest of Us: A Comprehensive Guide to Wind Power and How to Use It, has an extensive discussion of the technology–all in one place.
There is also an extensive collection of archival and recent photographs of VAWTs and various forms of Darrieus turbines on the Photos section of this site. There you can find photos of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines.
Questionable Turbines and Siting Give Architects, LEED, Green Builders, and Wind Bad Name
By
Paul Gipe
Updated with a photo of the 18 Venger V2 Savonius turbines on the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Gizmag: Are “school of fish” turbine arrays a red herring?
By
Mike Barnard
Following the latest round of coverage, Gizmag takes a deeper look at his concept, and wonders whether the idea of packing turbines into as tight a space as possible might overlook some wind energy fundamentals.
Mein Gott! Costly VAWT Installed on Cologne High-Rise
By
Paul Gipe
I’ve written a lot about the folly of “building integrated” wind turbines, or the corollary, roof top wind turbines. It’s …
Another Poorly Sited Hoosier VAWT Vying for Worst Turbine Install
By
Paul Gipe
Hoosiers have definitely drunk the cool-aid. Worse, it’s another example of architectural greenwashing. According local press reports the Nature Conservancy …
Invest carefully; wind energy ‘innovations’ are rarely kosher
By
Mike Barnard
The wind industry isn’t going to be disrupted by someone with an idea and a Powerpoint pitch. If someone is approaching you with a great investment opportunity based on a ‘new’ wind generation technology, be aware.
Gorlov Helical Wind Turbine
By
Paul Gipe
The helical rotor design is reputed to reduce or eliminate the torque ripple encountered in traditional two-blade Darrieus or eggbeater turbines.
