WindTrees presents a promising solution for the European Union's carbon neutrality goals. These are successfully installed globally, including locations in Europe, the United States, South Korea, Birmingham, Vermont, and Switzerland.
Tree-Inspired Wind Turbines
The 'Aeroleaf' technology by French company New World Wind, also known as WindTrees, could play a pivotal role in the European Union's (EU) journey toward carbon neutrality. Interesting Engineering reported that this innovative technology features micro wind turbines strategically designed to resemble trees.
These metallic structures, replicating the appearance of trees, are equipped with branches that house small wind turbines resembling leaves. Luc Eric Krief, the visionary behind 'Aeroleaf' technology and the owner of New World Wind, emphasized the biomorphic nature of the design, making it inconspicuous as a renewable energy system upon first glance.
The WindTrees, demonstrating customizable tree-like technology, have already been successfully installed globally, with locations spanning Europe, the United States, South Korea, and specific areas such as Birmingham (UK), Vermont (USA), and Switzerland.
Krief emphasized the absence of visual pollution and the possibility of adding a bench around the tree for people to sit. Additionally, users can customize the color of both the trunk and leaves.
Other features highlighted by Euronews include a range of tree sizes from five to 33 feet (10 meters) in height, allowing for easy installation, even in urban settings, without extensive engineering efforts.
Once the turbine is in place, completing the construction is a simple process involving just a single bracket and three bolts. Their smaller size addresses specific challenges faced by larger turbines, including bird collisions, and they operate silently.
These characteristics offer various advantages, such as a biomorphic appearance that seamlessly integrates into the surroundings, easy installation requiring only a single bracket and three bolts, and a compact size. The turbines operate silently and overcome certain challenges encountered by larger counterparts, such as bird collisions.
The technology facilitates the direct supply of energy from small-scale wind turbines to a building's existing electrical system, operating on a self-consumption model. These turbines are capable of generating energy continuously, 24/7, and any surplus energy can be stored in batteries with a 60Ah capacity.
New Design
Referred to as self-consumption, Yahoo News reported that the company has plans to unveil a new design by January 2024, with the goal of tripling the power output of the Aeroleaf. Each leaf can generate up to 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year.
As a result, the 36-leaf WindTree is anticipated to achieve a maximum annual output of 36,000 kWh when exposed to a wind speed of 39 feet (12 meters) per second (m/s).
However, considering that wind speeds are unlikely to remain consistently high, even under typical conditions of 26 feet per second, a single WindTree could generate nearly 18,000 kWh annually. This energy output is sufficient to power a household with four residents and has the potential to reduce the home's yearly CO2 emissions by more than 12 tonnes.
He further mentioned that excess energy generated beyond consumption needs, whether during the day or night, can be stored in the battery with a 60Ah capacity, equivalent to approximately 45 minutes to one hour under normal conditions. Each tree is equipped with four batteries.
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