Folding wind turbines will facilitate the production of electricity

Spread the love

The US Department of Energy has recently introduced a plan that says that by 2030, about 20 percent of the energy needs of the United States will be supplied by wind power. The plan is undoubtedly very ambitious, but thanks to the efforts of scientists from Sandia National Laboratories, its implementation is quite possible.

Wind farms are currently one of the most efficient methods of producing electricity. The problem is that windmills are not very popular with the public because they occupy a lot of land, spat landscapes, and do not always blow enough wind to produce energy. That is why it is increasingly installed in the ocean just near the coast, where the wind is stronger and more stable. However, this solution is much more expensive, so its efficiency is falling significantly.

Sandia National Laboratories has developed a technology that can change that. Engineers have created a completely new 195-meter turbine blades for two football pitches that will be able to produce as much as 50 megawatts of power. This way one colossus can produce enough energy to feed 10,000. So a wind farm consisting of several dozen turbines could supply a large city with energy.

The special blade design, unlike conventional windmills, allows them to move with the wind so they do not have to be so tough, which in turn reduces their weight. In addition, the shovels can fold in the direction of the wind, and this greatly reduces the risk of damaging them in the event of strong winds.