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This wind turbine doesn't kill birds

by Judith Lewis

November 8, 2005 10:11 AM

Or so they say: Terra Moya Aqua, Inc., of Cheyenne, Wyoming, has developed what they call a “vertical axis” turbine that looks like a tower without the propellers of more common wind turbines. Because of its reduced height and radical design, the company touts it as more efficient, easier to maintain and install, and genuinely bird-friendly:

One of the primary environmental drawbacks of the propeller wind turbines is that they kill birds. The tips of the blades spin much faster than the wind speed, chopping through the air sometimes at speeds of 200 mph. The birds generally just don't see them coming.
The TMA vertical axis design probably "looks like a building to the bird," said Taylor. "We've never seen a dead bird at our test site." Likely this is because birds don’t normally fly into solid walls.

He notes that his company has been able to secure permission to install their turbine in several California counties where propeller turbines are banned because of the known bird carnage.

They also say it’s “six to eight times” as efficient as other turbines, lowering the cost per kilowatt hour of energy generation.

Design creates pull on the back side, contributing to 40%+ wind conversion efficiencies; doesn't kill birds; runs more quietly; and doesn't need to be installed as high, blending better with landscape. Generating costs estimated at 3.5 cents per kilowatt-hour, surpassing conventional energy sources.

It’s starting to sound like a Ronco product on late-night TV. But maybe it’s true.

(This is also on /. here, where some of the news nerds don’t seem to believe birds die in turbines at all.)

UPDATE: The After Gutenberg blog has this good link on Savonius and other vertical-axis turbines versus horizontal axis turbines -- a little technical, but not beyond comprehension. It gets into "lift-based" and "drag-based" technology, which makes the whole thing a little easier to understand.

It's not too good to be true just yet . . .

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There are 4 comments posted for this article.

I wrote to Carl Thelander with the link. If he approves, we know we've got something.

Posted on November 8, 2005 11:11 PM by Judith Lewis

these turbines sound too good to be true! I wonder if anybody has actually tested them on a site. I'd like to see the results of those tests.

Posted on November 8, 2005 11:11 PM by Garry George

Wow! Or is this the cold fusion of wind power? Why isn't everyone all over this? It sounds like there's no downside. Will we find the inventor dead of mysterious causes (acute coal/fuel oil/nuclear industry rubout) or is this really going to change everything? I went to the site to get more info, but i'm to much of a blog addict to take the time to get the lowdown myself so i hope you'll keep us informed. thanks.

Posted on November 11, 2005 1:11 AM by michael dean sturtevant

Energy conservation - The transition

For the past several years, all the debates and analyses related to the use of primary energies are influenced by a set of incontrovertible facts. They all lead to the same conclusion: "it is essential to rationalize the use of energy on a world-wide scale, in order to ensure the sustainable future of the species that inhabit the planet and of the corresponding biodiversity that supports them".

A transition to a sustainable energy system is necessary, also from “the economic point of view”, that guarantees the maintenance of our generation's and future generations' welfare, from a perspective of respecting the environment.

This transition requires significant effort in research, development and technological innovation, as well as greater social awareness of the energy problem. In the short and medium term, the objectives for implementing a sustainable energy system would include the application of measures such as:
• Encouraging energy saving and efficiency.
• Promoting renewable energy sources.
• The development of the necessary energy infrastructures to face the increase in consumption during this period of transition (gas-based infrastructures).

Posted on June 11, 2008 10:53 PM by Jay Draiman

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