Tapping energy from the sun and wind to generate power is becoming increasingly popular as they are the cheapest renewable energy sources. However, as single units, solar or wind power generators may be inefficient when either of the resources cannot be tapped due to changes in the weather. Integrating both these energies is a good option at such times as either of the sources can be tapped to produce energy.
Bluenergy AG, a German company has designed the first integrated solar vertical axis wind turbine that is based on sailing engineering. The new Bluenergy Solarwind Turbine is touted to deliver the optimal blend of quiet, clean, renewable energy in urban or rural settings.
Solar cells coated with Fluorpolymer (Teflon) process capture sunlight from any angle and can be affixed to curved surfaces, making it possible to completely cover, with productive solar cells, the turbine’s curved wind vanes and the dome-shaped base enclosing its generator and inverter.
Melchior’s naturalistic double-helix, vertical axis turbine design generates electricity in breezes as low as 4 mph and is designed to produce power in winds up to 90 mph! An interesting claim made by the company is that since the solar cells are cooled by the rotation of the turbine, the power generated is obviously higher.
The solar cells are encapsulated on the wind vanes and the simple elegance of this design tempts you to discard your solar panels or the tall wind towers you have installed in your homes. That’s what we mean when we say: Having the best of both and tapping it too!
