A WHOLE NEW WAY TO CATCH THE WIND

There is something appealingly simple about this idea but NewEnergyNews' secret source doubts there is going to be anything more efficient than the turbine propeller. Even if this design catches more wind, there are stability and control factors to consider. So, while we hope for the best and await proof-of-concept, file this in the “if-it-seems-too-good-to-be-true-it probably-is” file (after you learn what is to be learned from it).

Developers trying to harness Earth’s energy in new way; The power of wind
Allison Bruce, August 5, 2007 (Ventura County Star)

WHO
Gene Kelley, founder, InnovaTech LLC and W2 Energy Development Corp.

WHAT
"WindWing" is a way to capture moving energy, especially wind energy, and translate all the force into an up and down, power-generating movement.

Explanation of the concept. (click to enlarge)

WHEN
2005: Patent filed. W2 started 5 months ago to develop WindWing. Prototype now complete in small back room of the Santa Barbara Airport.

WHERE
Kelley is based in Santa Barbara, CA.

WHY
- Kelley has 40 years experience at engineering. He is a flight buff with decades of experience.
- WindWing is also applicable to water energy.
- The simplest explanation of the concept: Hold an open palm out the window of a car moving forward. The force of the wind drives the hand up and down. WindWing captures the energy of that oscillating movement.
- Prototype: four wings on one 10-foot end, weights on a shorter, 1-foot end.
- With 10-1 ratio, the force of the wind is magnified: 200 pounds of lift on the wings becomes a ton of force. In application, the short end would be attached to energy storing or producing apparatus. In wind (or current), a sensor reads when the wings are at maximum height and tips them, sending them downward, still collecting and translating energy.
- Oscillations are less dangerous to birds (or fish).
- The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) says a turbine converts 45% of wind encountered into electricity, Kelley contends the blades only encounter 5% of wind blowing by while his wings, meeting much more wind, are 40-60% more efficient. Also, several WindWings could be stacked on every tower, replacing 8-10 turbines (Kelley’s assertion).
- The simpler mechanism and fewer towers means, Kelley asserts, an $80,000 WindWing installation could match the 1.8 megawatt output of a $1.5 million turbine.
- Solar cells could also be mounted on the WindWing installation.
- Kelley is seeking $5-7 million in 1st round financing.

Kelley and the WindWing prototype. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Kelley: "We want to build a better way of harvesting energy from whatever renewable source there is…"
- Ron Pretlac, coo, W2: "It's going to be a very, very successful technology…Because of the applications, it creates a whole variety of new solutions."
- Christine Real de Azua, assistant director of communications for the American Wind Energy Association: “Wind energy is a hot place to be these days…There's a lot of opportunity and wind energy attracts a lot of new concepts…It's all very exciting."
- David Buckalew, W2 vice president for information resources: "Can you imagine taking this to Africa and using this to drill for water?”