Today’s Solutions: February 12, 2025

According to the latest Global Wind Report, the world needs to triple its wind energy production over the coming decade in order to reach critical net-zero targets. While that’s a very ambitious goal, a new study demonstrates that by redesigning conventional wind turbines, we could boost their efficiency and thus their green energy output.

Coming from scientists at Oxford Brookes University, the new findings show that vertical turbine designs could make wind farms more efficient, improving their performance by as much as 15 percent.

Led by Professor Iakovos Tzanakis, the study used 11,500 hours of advanced computer modeling to compare traditional wind turbines to vertical turbines. Current wind turbine designs typically take the form of Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWTs), but the research proposes that Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs) — which are not new to us — are more compact in design and can significantly boost efficiency.

“This study evidences that the future of wind farms should be vertical,” says Tzanakis. “Vertical axis wind farm turbines can be designed to be much closer together, increasing their efficiency and ultimately lowering the prices of electricity. In the long run, VAWTs can help accelerate the green transition of our energy systems, so that more clean and sustainable energy comes from renewable sources.”

These findings come at a crucial moment in time, when the world needs to take every opportunity it can to accelerate the transition towards a post-carbon economy. Increasing the amount of clean electricity generated by wind farms will play a key role in achieving that goal.

Image source: Ambient Green

Solutions News Source Print this article
More of Today's Solutions

Brazil bans smartphones in schools to aim for better learning

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Brazilian students kicked off the school year with a new challenge: staying off their smartphones. A nationwide law, ...

Read More

8 ways to keep your joints happy as you age

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Right now, your knees and hips might be getting the job done without much fanfare. You walk, squat, ...

Read More

Building bridges in the midst of conflict: 12 organizations working for Israe...

There is a glimmer of hope in the heart of one of the world's longest and most complex wars, yet it often goes unrecognized. ...

Read More

Tennessee’s ELVIS Act: A pioneering legislation protects artists from A...

Tennessee made history late last month by signing the Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security Act (ELVIS Act), which was the first piece of ...

Read More