Dragonfly-Inspired Turbine

Renzo Piano has created a compact, yet super-efficient wind turbine that anyone can erect in their backyard. Called the “Dragonfly Invisible Wind Turbine” the two-blade design mimics the delicate dragonfly’s ability to float on the slightest of breezes. Based on the physics of dragonfly flight, Piano’s mini-turbine can harvest energy from winds that blow as slow as four miles an hour.

Most residential turbine designs are big, loud, and often have an adverse affect on property values. Commercial-size turbines produce a lot of power, but you can’t put them just anywhere, and they can have a deleterious impact on birds and other wildlife. Piano’s compact turbine design addresses nearly all of these problems without sacrificing efficiency.

Source: inhabitat.comAdded: 14 November 2013