A modular wind energy system made of recycled materials

The company Airiva developed a modular, scalable and smart wind energy system consisting of an array of vertical wind turbines, made of recycled materials.

Generally, wind turbines are long poles with three blades attached to them. The higher they go, the more wind they catch, which is why the their size keeps increasing. There are, however, several downsides to these wind turbines. Since they are big, they need a lot of space, so they are commonly placed in meadows or at sea. A much heard complaint is that they are ugly, so many people do not want to look out over a field of wind turbines. In addition, the turbines are commonly made of composite materials, which are hard to recycle at end of life.

The Airiva concept was born in 2021, when it turned out there weren’t many wind energy projects focused on aesthetics and design. One segment of the Airiva system consists of a wall with four turbines, which can generate 1,100 kilowatt-hours in annual energy production (AEP) based on initial testing. This is not nearly as much as a conventional wind turbine. However, the system is not designed to compete with those, but rather be used in addition to conventional wind turbines, in areas where they cannot, like urban and suburban landscapes.

The system consists of an array of vertical turbines, which are said to be silent and safe. The system can be installed in many places, like along highways or on campuses. The design is modular for easy transportation and is scalable to reflect site-specific needs. Multiple units can be connected.

Airuva’s manufacturing target is to use a minimum of 80 per cent post-consumer and recycled materials.

Images: Airiva