Floating vertical axis wind turbine — OWLWIND project

Many projects centered on new floating wind turbines as Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs) whose advantages are magnified for offshore applications, are being developed to adapt the extraction of wind energy to the most difficult conditions associated with deep waters. The OWLWIND project which is starting is centered on such a machine with a twin rotors architecture; its first challenge is to raise peak VAWT rotor efficiencies, which is still lower than peak Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWTs) efficiencies. Each rotor has an innovative design, reducing parasitic drags. Performances of an isolated rotor have given quite encouraging results. A second test phase on the properties of the whole machine is currently conducted via a model in a wind tunnel.