It is no mystery that wind power has a few limitations. Wind turbines are considered an eye-sore by many, they require space, they make noise, and they require more than just a light breeze to really maximize energy output and offset initial costs. New Wind is addressing the limits of wind power in dense areas with lighter wind through the invention of the Arbre à Vent (wind tree).
The wind trees are smaller than the typical turbine at just 36 feet tall. What they lack in height, however, they make up for in maximum efficiency. The leaves of the tree are the small propellers, which can be turned by light breeze instead of the larger wind speeds required of a larger blade.
While they are not capable of producing the same amount of electricity as larger turbines and wind farms, they are able to produce electricity consistently, making them ideal for powering outdoor lights or smaller buildings. This design could easily fit into growth in resilience planning in cities by contributing to microgrids and individual sources of electricity.
At first glance, wind turbines made to look like a tree might seem a bit silly, but let us take a moment to remember the cell tower tree.
Check out the video below of the wind trees in action and read more about them from City Metric.
