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Vertical axis wind turbine design set to reduce operating costs

A pioneer wind turbine tower design is set to be put on trial south of Adelaide in a novel research collaboration between Flinders University and startup company VAWT-X Energy.

Supported by state and federal funding, the research team constructed and tested a 6 KW vertical wind turbine prototype to install at a field site on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

The low-maintenance two-bladed helical vertical axis wind turbine design comprises a rotor with a shaft connected to a brake and generator. This new design could help to increase the sustainability and energy operating costs of residential, agricultural and light industrial operations close to metropolitan areas, as well as large-scale offshore windfarms.

Engineering experts at Flinders University are challenging the trend of using horizontal axis wind turbines by working with VAWT-X Energy’s vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) design to develop innovative prototypes of large-scale VAWTs, set to be tested in real-world conditions.

Designed with quiet operation and adaptability in mind, the large standalone vertical turbines are shaping up to be just as efficient, if not more so, than their horizontal counterparts, said Dr Amir Zanj, head of the Advanced Wind Energy Technology (AWET) research group based at Flinders University’s Tonsley campus.

“Darrieus’ VAWTs can thrive across diverse environments, whether they’re set up as single units, part of urban infrastructure, or scaled up for larger wind farms,” Zanj, from the College of Science and Engineering, said in a recent review article in the journal Energies.

“They offer advantages like high power density on wind farms, greater stability for offshore use, and adaptability to urban areas with shifting winds — all while being quieter and more economical to operate.”

VAWT-X Energy founder Gary Andrews said the new wind turbine aims to address some of the longstanding aerodynamic challenges, potentially providing a more sustainable, versatile alternative for renewable production in Australia and elsewhere.

“We believe our VAWTs are not only more efficient but also more accessible for applications like off-grid power and sustainable energy solutions for small businesses and farms,” he said. “The design of these new VAWT-X Energy turbines solves some of the traditional barriers for Darrieus designs.”

Along with private equity funding, research and development will continue with a new grant from the Australian Government. The project is also supported by a $300,000 grant from the Department of State Development in South Australia.

Image caption: Members of the Advanced Wind Energy Technology (AWET) group at Tonsley. Left to right: Chun Hin So, Bahar Amani, Abolfazl Abdolahifar, Mohsen Feyzi, Dr Amir Zanj and Mohammad Mahdi Jalilvand with the latest scaled-up version of the 6 KW VAWT-X Energy model assembled at the Tonsley Innovation Precinct on 9 January 2025.