Modular rotary turbine walls are revolutionizing urban wind energy – Yanko Design

Since introducing the energy wall concept in 2021, designer Joe Doucet has been working tirelessly to make this innovative idea a reality. Now, with the launch of Airiva, a modular rotating wind turbine wall designed for urban installations, this vision is closer than ever to reality. Airiva promises to revolutionize the way cities and infrastructure use wind energy, delivering sustainable energy directly to the places where people live and work.

Designer: Joe Daucet

Wind energy has played a key role in reducing global dependence on fossil fuels. However, the adoption of wind turbines in residential and commercial applications has been slow, mainly due to their invasive design. Airiva takes up this challenge by combining functionality with aesthetics.

The wall of a wind turbine consists of many rotating blades that rotate independently, driving a generator to produce clean, renewable electricity. This modular and scalable solution is tailored to urban and suburban environments, allowing it to be expanded or co-existed with other energy generation methods. The electricity generated can be used on site, stored or fed back into the grid. The system is not only efficient, but also quiet and safe, making it suitable for a wide range of environments. Potential installation sites include, but are not limited to, municipal and public facilities, commercial buildings, transportation networks and coastal areas.

Airiva places great emphasis on sustainability. The production process aims to use at least 80% recycled and recycled materials, in line with the principles of a circular economy and minimizing environmental impact. This commitment to sustainability is a fundamental aspect of Airiva’s design and manufacturing strategy.

One of the key advantages of Airiva is its flexibility. The system’s modular design allows for easy transport and scalability to meet specific site requirements. Multiple units can be networked to create a flexible clean energy system that can be tailored to a variety of applications. In addition, Airiva is designed to complement other distributed energy technologies, providing a versatile alternative that can enhance existing installations.

Airiva’s intelligent technology enables remote monitoring of system information and location, providing visibility and control over geographically dispersed installations. Each unit consists of two segments, each 2100 mm long and high by 1050 mm deep, with a final hub unit for control, communication and energy management. This design facilitates global transportation and distribution, ensuring the system can be deployed wherever it is needed.

The original idea from 2021 envisaged a wall of 25 vertical-axis turbines with a total peak power of 10 kilowatts. While the intermittent nature of wind means actual energy production may vary, the improved Airiva system is expected to produce approximately 2,200 kWh per unit per year. While this may not meet the entire energy needs of the average home, it can significantly reduce your energy bills. Larger installations, such as those on commercial campuses or transportation hubs, can use more power, demonstrating the system’s scalability.

Airiva, which is currently in the prototyping phase, plans to begin customer pilots in the second half of this year, with orders expected to open in 2025. While specific numbers have not yet been released, Airiva’s target levelized cost of energy (LCOE) is expected to be competitive both domestically and internationally with other small-scale distributed energy sources. Upcoming pilots will be crucial to confirming these claims and demonstrating the system’s effectiveness in real-world conditions.