What happens when you remove the blades on a wind turbine? A quieter, more cost-effective turbine that's easier to maintain and poses a much lower risk to birds and the local environment. That’s what one Dat Venture startup has achieved with its technology, which takes advantage of vorticity—an aerodynamic effect that occurs when wind breaks against a solid structure. The Vortex structure captures the energy that is produced when it oscillates, as opposed to through the rotational motion of a turbine. The company recently launched an Indiegogo campaign to fund the creation of the commercial pilot for its first product, the Vortex Atlantis (100 W). And in eight days, the green energy campaign has surpassed its $50,000 goal, raising $51,051 from 838 people. Backers have access to a range of perks, from T-Shirts and other swag, to a whole day at the company’s lab and testing facility.
The company claims that its design can cut maintenance costs by 80 percent, and cause a 40-percent reduction in both the carbon footprint and energy generation costs, in comparison to conventional bladed wind turbines. Since the alternator—and center of gravity—is close to the ground, Vortex is relatively easy to assemble. And because it has no parts in contact at all (no gears, linkages, etc), there is less chance of anything breaking, which translates to lower maintenance and costs. Since Vortex oscillates at a frequency below 20 Hz, it doesn’t produce any audible noise.
Vortex Bladeless is an early-stage Spanish startup founded in November 2013 that has relocated to Boston for the international accelerator Dat Venture. Over the past six months, the company has brought on advisory board members from Harvard University, IDEO and SunEdison. At the end of this year, Vortex plans to launch its first product, with Massachusetts-based production facilities opening in 2016. The technology has received a grant from Repsol, one of the largest private oil and gas companies in the world. Additionally, the startup has formed a partnership with SEO Bird Life, along with other eco-conscious foundations. Vortex is currently working to raise a $2.5 million Series A round from international angel investors.
Image courtesy of Vortex.
