010_QR_ground_mounted_01_1.jpgThe search for renewable sources of energy and the technologies to harness them is going on worldwide. One such project underway in the UK is quietrevolution ltd, who is developing a small wind turbine for the urban environment that is quiet, efficient and pleasing to the architectural eye.

Urban, or built-up environments, create wind turbulence which can negatively effect a wind turbine’s performance. The ubiquitous horizontal axis, propeller-type turbines can have their efficiency greatly reduced by changes in wind direction and turbulence. This is a primary reason for opting for a vertical axis wind turbine, a design that doesn’t require physically rotating into the wind every time wind direction changes, wasting valuable energy.

Using real wind data, the designers of the QR5 have shown that it produces 20% – 40% more energy than a conventional, similar-sized, horizontal wind turbine, in a typical urban location — near buildings or where the wind is turbulent.

This technology and design appear to have great potential.

learn and see more @ quietrevolution.com