Generating electricity from even the strongest storms

J-STORIES - Wind power is a key part of the world’s shift to a renewable energy future. But conventional wind turbines are vulnerable to particularly strong winds, and can be halted, or even destroyed, by adverse conditions such as the fierce typhoons that buffet Japan each year.

Tokyo-based Challenergy is developing propeller-less turbines that can continue to generate electricity even during such severe weather. Indeed, the creators claim the turbines can withstand gales 1.5 times stronger than those that can bring conventional turbines to a standstill.

This added robustness means they can produce electricity not just in typhoon-afflicted countries such as Japan and the Philippines, but also in hurricane regions such as the Americas, or in parts of East Africa and the Pacific that are prone to cyclones.

Challenergy uses a proprietary blade-less design known as “Magnus Vertical Axis.” Instead of blades, the turbines developed by the outfit have large vertical tubes, two of them in the latest design.

They generate electricity via the Magnus effect, a phenomenon that occurs when a spinning object moves through a fluid, or air. It is the same phenomenon that causes a ball in baseball or tennis to curve when spin is applied.

A propeller-less turbine installed in the Philippines. With no blades to be damaged, it can operate in higher winds than its bladed counterparts. It is also quieter and less likely to injure or kill birds.      Source: Challenergy — A propeller-less turbine installed in the Philippines. With no blades to be damaged, it can operate in higher winds than its bladed counterparts. It is also quieter and less likely to injure or kill birds. Source: Challenergy

Challenergy CEO Atsushi Shimizu first turned his attention to wind energy after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. He felt that society needed an energy source other than nuclear power, and that wind power would be a major part of the world’s renewable energy future.

Challenergy CEO Atsushi Shimizu. The company's turbines, such as the one behind him, are propeller-less, so difficult to recognize as a wind turbine at first glance.      Source: Challenergy — Challenergy CEO Atsushi Shimizu. The company's turbines, such as the one behind him, are propeller-less, so difficult to recognize as a wind turbine at first glance. Source: Challenergy

The company aims to commercialize its turbines by 2025 and is now working on offshore versions. It also intends to develop large turbines that can generate 10 times as much electricity as its current models.

A key element of commercialization is maintenance. The turbines have a lifetime of 20 years and require regular checks. Challenergy has already established a maintenance company in the Philippines and plans to offer similar services in other markets.

According to the company’s CSO, Shigeto Mizumoto, because renewable energy uses natural elements such as the sun, wind, and water, conditions differ depending on the region. For that reason, one challenge is to develop technology that precisely meets the needs of each local environment, he says.

But as the world faces a stormy and uncertain future due to climate change, this new technology could be a way to turn fierce headwinds to our advantage.