Market Size
The world and us market
The proposed VAWT is promising for most areas of the US and the world with low wind situations.
Wind, which carries significant amounts of energy, may become a mainstay of the future global energy systems. Compared to the horizontal-axis wind turbine (HAWT), the vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) has yet to achieve commercial success primarily because of the lack of good structure design and the complexity of the underlying fluid dynamics. A highly optimized VAWT can produce significant levels of power for suburban, exurban, and rural areas, where HAWTs would not be tolerated. Compared to HAWTs, it would be easier to fabricate, install, transport, and maintain and would not contain critical or rare earth materials. Also, VAWTs have lower cut-in wind speeds, which have the potential to be widely used in low-wind speed areas, e.g., the eastern and western areas of the U.S. (see figure below). Compared to solar cells, they do not contain critical or toxic materials.
Wind sources in the US
Wind farms in the US
Minnesota market
The proposed VAWT is promising for most areas of Minnesota, especially urban, suburban, and exurban areas with relatively low population densities.
Generally, vertical-axis wind turbines have a much lower profile than horizontal-axis wind turbines and are considered promising for suburban (much of the dark blue in the map below), exurban (light blue) and rural (green) areas with relatively low population densities. The tops of buildings in urban areas are possible sites, too.
Overall, Minnesota ranks 30th in the US in population density. Among urban areas in the US with over 2.5 million people, only two other areas have lower population density than the Minneapolis-St.Paul urban area (2010 census). These facts suggest that there is a market here for an efficient vertical-axis wind turbine. They also suggest that large wind farms may not be a suitable approach: if such a farm can be accommodated and tolerated, the already successful horizontal-axis wind turbines may be best. Thus, a distributed approach involving homeowners, small farms, suburban areas, mixed-use areas, parks, building tops (e.g., supermarkets), small businesses, and university campuses appears to be better targeted.
The events of the month ending March 15, 2022 are relevant. Minnesotans drive about 60 × 10^9 miles per year with an average fuel efficiency of 20 mpg. Thus, due to the average rise of gasoline prices of 0.70 during that month, Minnesotans conservatively spent an additional $175 million during that month. It is known that one of the few drivers for the adoption of more efficient vehicles and alternative technologies is cost. Hence, it is timely to introduce a major new energy technology that, nevertheless, requires a degree of public acceptance.
In advertising we hear that electric cars are "emissions free". Usually, this is false: the emissions are generated at the power plant. In Minnesota, in August, 2023, 20% of power was generated by burning coal, a dreadful pollutant. To be truly emissions free, we need technologies like the VAWT.
Applications
The proposed VAWT is scalable and suitable for most urban, suburban, exurban, and rural areas. Some application scenarios are shown below.
Houseowner
Parks
Paddocks
Small farms
Building tops
Small fishing ground
Small businesses
University campuses
Remote areas
Opportunity
The market opportunities of the proposed VAWTs
Global market for wind turbines estimated to increase from $85B in 2022 to $116B by 2027, a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.4%
While the cost of wind power is competitive with conventional power plants, it nonetheless requires substantial initial investments
North America market estimated to increase from $22B to $28B in the same period, a CAGR of 5.2%; The US ranked 2nd in annual wind capacity but remains behind market leaders in wind energy penetration
Inflation Reduction Act provides renewed optimism and incentives for US manufacturing. In 2022, at least 44% of the new wind capacity installed and electricity utility companies represent 33% of the new capacity installed.