WindTree

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, wind is one of the cheapest sources of renewable power, averaging only about two cents per kilowatt hour. Now an innovative new wind turbine is designed to augment conventional energy systems with locally generated wind power.

The WindTree is a 30-foot-tall metal structure that supports 54 individual turbines on a network of “branches.” Called AeroLeaves, the three-foot-long turbines are similar in shape to large ears of corn, each with its own microprocessor that adjusts the rotation to maximize the amount of kinetic energy it can capture. At wind speeds of four to 36 miles per hour, a single WindTree will produce between 1,000 and 3,500 kilowatts of power per year – a substantial portion of the typical home’s annual electricity needs.

At a price of about £70,000 (about US$90,000) installed, the system will appeal mainly to businesses and governmental agencies. However, the company anticipates that the cost will be lower by the time the product is introduced in North America later this year.