Two students at Lancaster University who created a 'spinning' turbine, capable of capturing wind travelling in any direction, have won the prestigious James Dyson award. The turbine could potentially transform the way consumers generate electricity.
Unlike conventional wind turbines which only capture wind travelling in one direction, meaning they are inefficient in cities where wind trapped between buildings is unpredictable, the O-Wind Turbine uses a simple geometric shape to take advantage of both horizontal and vertical winds without needing to be steered.
The turbine is a 25cm sphere with geometric vents which sits on a fixed axis. When wind hits it from any direction it spins, and gears then drive a generator which converts the wind power into electricity. This can then either be used directly or fed into the electricity grid.
It may take at least five years for the turbine to be put into commercial production, but the students hope that it will be installed on large structures, such as the side of a building, where wind speeds are highest. One of the students, Nicolas Orellana, said:
"We hope that O-Wind Turbine will improve the usability and affordability of turbines for people across the world. Cities are windy places but we are currently not harnessing this resource. Our belief is that by making it easier to generate green energy, people will be encouraged to play a bigger own role in conserving our planet."
The invention will now be entered into the international running for the final leg of the award in November. The award operates in 27 countries for university-level students and recent graduates, recognising and rewarding imaginative design solutions to global problems in relation to the environment.
