City barriers for wind energy are blown away

An Ontario energy company believes that no matter where you live, you should be able to take advantage of the enormous potential of wind energy.

However, though wind energy is Canada’s fastest growing renewable energy source, several obstacles have limited the use of wind turbines in larger cities.

Finding the necessary space for wind turbines amid buildings, factories and towers can be difficult. Installing turbines directly on rooftops is also challenging. Vibrations caused by a turbine in the building it powers has also been a common complaint. And urban turbines must contend with smog-filled air, litter and debris.

Working with McMaster University and Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE), Cleanfield Energy Inc. has overcome each of these challenges and developed a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) for peak performance in urban settings.

This turbine stands 10 feet tall with three vertical blades, and looks more like an egg-beater than a windmill. Under favorable conditions, a single unit can provide 9,000 kW over a year – that’s 86% of an average Ontario home’s energy needs.

It can be installed on a variety of buildings, from a two-storey factory to a 35-storey high-rise and can be modified for either tower or rooftop installations. The turbine can handle gale-force winds, smog-filled air and can catch any wind without having to face it.

Cleanfield has already installed a dozen systems, with another 78 on order and generated a whirlwind of interest from around the world.

- www.newscanada.com

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