Those are neat looking, aren’t they? They’re UGE micro-turbines. Note, the micro part, despite their huge size. UGE are apparently the best VAWTs out there right now, but you pay a big penalty for that sexy eggbeater profile. Here’s a quote from the cleantechnica review of that model:
These pretty basic comparisons show the reason why the lifecycle cost of electricity (LCOE) for horizontal axis wind turbines is always better than the LCOE for vertical axis wind turbines. They have to sweep twice the area with four times the material to achieve the same capacity. Added to this is that they are so often sited in very poor wind resources with masts that are too short because of their ‘advantage’ of being able to catch turbulent air, and the capacity factor drops tremendously.
I think it’s great that an alternative energy system capable of powering the stadium was installed, and those are probably the best (or at least among the best) vertical axis wind turbines in the world. But fundamental physics dictates that they will be very poor performers compared to an equally costly horizontal prop wind turbine, and they won’t last as long either.
