Japanese researchers say that they’ve discovered a simple way to make wind turbines up to three times as efficient. By placing a ‘wind lens’ around the turbine blades, they claim that wind power could become cheaper than nuclear.
Kyushu University professor Yuji Ohya spoke of the merits of the 112-meter diameter structures being able to increase energy output “two or three fold”, as well as being about to reduce the dreaded noise pollution so often associated with wind turbines, and improve safety too.
The futuristic design was unveiled at Yokohama Renewable Energy International Exhibition 2010.
The ultra efficient Wind Lens was designed by Kyushu University professor Yuji Ohya. According to Yuji Ohya and his team the Wind Lens’ honeycomb-like structure could triple the amount of wind energy that can be produced by offshore turbines.
Flodesign had a shrouded wind turbine design since 2008 which also boosted efficiency over a regular turbine of the same size
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