Domestic wind turbine wins a prize for sustainability

. Inventor Ben Storan says of it, “It can easily be deployed in any location thanks to its lightweight and flexible structure. The vertical axis design will make power generation attractive and easy for the populace”. It uses textile aerofoils with ribbed members to maintain their shape and a GRP pole. The superstructure weighs only 9kg, so that total weight is only about 25kg as opposed to about 50kg for a Windsave or similar. The construction is tensioned in a manner that reminds one of a rotary clothes airer and in the inactive condition, the blades sit almost vertically, close to the rotation axis. Overall height is 4m and span diameter is 2.5m. Estimated cost including generator is just under £1000. Rated power consumption is said to be 1.2 kW at 12m/s although it must be pointed out that average wind speed in the UK is only 5.6m/s, less in towns. When we saw it, we felt it looked like something that it should be possible to manufacture at rotary clothes airer type prices and flexible enough that in severe weather, it should bend rather than lead to roof damage. The inventor calls it “Brí” jethames.co.uk