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Spotted: Following a COVID-19-related dip in the development of wind power systems, the International Energy Agency (IEA) expects onshore wind capacity in 2023 to reach 107 gigawatts, an all-time high. This is due, in large part, to a recovery in China’s plans for expansion of the renewable energy source, with the EU, USA, India, and Brazil rounding out the list of the other regions and countries with the highest planned wind outputs.  

With many of the 2050 Net-Zero Emissions scenarios dependent on achieving high levels of wind and solar power, finding ways to speed up and more widely distribute adoption of the energy sources is crucial to maintaining and improving global progress. In Australia, for example, Diffuse Energy has created a powerful micro wind turbine called the Hyland 920.  

Incorporating more than 20 years of research by engineers and scientists at the University of Newcastle, Australia, the turbine’s blades are encased in a diffuser ring to minimise energy loss. With an operating efficiency of 42 per cent, each turbine prevents up to one tonne of carbon emissions by reducing a business’s reliance on fossil fuels. Designed to be lightweight, durable, and easy to install and maintain, the turbine works with both 24 and 48-volt electricity systems.  

The turbines generate power 24 hours a day, in all types of weather, and each turbine can save owners up to AU$221 (around €113) a month when compared to running petroleum-powered systems. The small size of the turbine makes it an excellent complement to existing PV arrays, as well as a stand-alone power source for off-grid locations. 

The turbines are available via lease, with pricing dependent on the number of turbines being used in each location. No deposit is required, and Diffuse Energy provides project design expertise as well as ongoing regular support and maintenance. The startup is working with companies in the telecommunications, mining, TV, and agriculture industries. 

Springwise’s database includes other methods for capitalising on the power of the wind, from a kite that harnesses the power of winds high above the ground to a single-bladed turbine that floats in the sea.

Written By: Keely Khoury