Supersized wind turbine could weather storms by bending like palm tree

There is simply a bounds to however large existing upwind turbine designs tin get, which limits the powerfulness they tin produce, but a caller attack inspired by thenar trees could assistance them standard up

Technology 6 January 2023

By Madeleine Cuff

Analysis of a tiny prototype (left) suggests a caller upwind turbine plan could beryllium scaled up

Chris Qin (Washington State University)

Wind turbines taller than astir skyscrapers, with blades that crook similar thenar trees, could make 50 megawatts (MW) of power, according to an investigation of a scaled-down prototype. This would beryllium capable to powerfulness astir 15,000 US homes.

The largest existing upwind turbines apical retired astatine astir 300 metres tall, much than doubly the tallness of the London Eye, and tin make 15MW of power. Larger turbines nutrient much power, bringing down the wide …