We all know that wind energy is a popular renewable energy source, making wind turbines a trustworthy technology for both on-shore and off-shore energy production. They come in all shapes and sizes, but this spherical wind turbine is unlike anything you’ve seen before. It will make you forget about solar panels, thanks to its high efficiancy which could result in infinite energy at home. With high application possibilities, this spherical wind turbine revolutionizes renewable energy.
The innovative company behind this innovative technology
The name already tells you just how original and creative this company is, but let us start at the very beginning. The year is 2006. A young Industrial Design student, Nicholas Orellana, was busy with research for a project when he stumbled onto a NASA experiment called “Tumbleweed” – a wind-driven rover that was essentially a large inflatable ball with instruments inside.
Nicholas was inspired by his project and challenged himself to invent a device that uses crosswinds to travel forward in a straight line, allowing the device to have its own preset direction. This resulted in the “periplo,” Spanish for “journey.” After graduation, the device was stored away, but Nicholas kept developing its principle. In 2018, Nicholas was almost a Master’s graduate, and revisited his device for the James Dyson Award for engineering design.
Yaseen Nooran, a classmate, was part of the team for engineering support, and together they turned “periplo” into an omnidirectional wind turbine. They won the UK contest and the international version, with their now-named O-Wind Turbine. These awards were widely publicised worldwide, leading to thousands expressing interest in the O-Wind Turbine. This public interest, coupled with the arrival of a new co-founder, Dominic Chippendale, led to O-Innovations finally being founded in 2019. Their prototypes are now being tested and developed.
This spherical wind turbine is the first of its kind
The micro spherical wind turbine, or known to the market as the O-Wind Turbine, harnesses winds from all directions, be it horizontal, vertical, or anywhere in betweem. This ability marks it the first of a new category for wind turbines. The spherical and bladeless style makes it safe and suitable for urban applications, no matter its location or the infrastructure.
The O-Wind Turbine relies on the Venturi Effect. Channels on the turbine’s surface internally move air over different sections, which create higher and lower zones. The tactically placed zones create a spinning force, which enables rotation along a single axis, despite the wind’s direction. An internal generator seizes this rotational movement, creating electrical energy for onsite infrastructure, microgrids, or storage in a battery bank.
A spherical wind turbine is much more effective for these reasons
The O-Wind Turbine has many benefits, as can be seen below:
- It generates energy equivalent to a standard UK household’s yearly expense and as much as the average solar panel installation in the UK.
- The prototypes are made from recyclable composites.
- It is suitable for urban locations and public and private use.
- It is bladeless, which makes it wildlife-friendly.
- It is virtually silent.
- Its spherical design utilises the air density more efficiently than traditional turbines with blades, which means they are more effective at higher altitudes than traditional turbines.
As with any other wind turbine, location is key. The energy output naturally depends on the wind conditions of the installation location. If your city is located offshore, the turbines will be more efficient than on-shore turbines because wind speeds are higher and more consistent at sea.
This company stood by their name with their highly innovative spherical wind turbine, revolutionizing the use of wind and bringing us a step closer to the global transition to renewable energy. As O-Innovations does their final validation checks, you can visit their website to sign up for the O-Wind Turbine waiting list.