Mauricio Rodas and Sandra Villars
December 23, 2024
Airloom, a US-based start-up, has designed a new kind of wind turbine that promises to revolutionize the industry. The company claims its design can generate the same amount of energy as a traditional turbine, but at a fraction of the cost and size.
Instead of traditional blades, the Airloom turbine uses wings that fly around a track. The track itself can be up to several kilometers long and is supported by towers 25 meters high.
This significantly reduces the size and material requirements of the turbine, making it almost 10 times cheaper to build than conventional models. Additionally, the design generates electricity at one-third the cost of standard wind turbines.
Airloom's compact design also addresses the issue of space limitations. Unlike traditional turbines that require significant distance between each other, Airloom's turbines can be placed closer together, minimizing their overall footprint.
Airloom is currently planning a pilot project for 2025, followed by a commercial installation in 2027. The company is supported by investment firm Breakthrough Energy Ventures, demonstrating the potential of its technology for the future of clean energy.
Mauricio Rodas and Sandra Villars
December 23, 2024