The main goal of this project is to increase the efficiency of small wind turbines (KWA) in order to establish them as an economical solution on the path to energy self-sufficiency. In recent years, the development of wind turbines has resulted in bigger and bigger turbines, as the wind blows more constantly and more strongly in higher air layers. In contrast, KWA are used for decentralized energy generation in the immediate vicinity of consumers and have considerable potential for achieving energy self-sufficiency.
However, the wind near the ground is deflected, slowed down and swirled by obstacles such as buildings or trees. This makes it difficult to predict the wind potential and poses the risk of bad investments in the site-specific system design. The following innovations are planned to meet these challenges:
– The development of a mechanical rotor blade adjustment system that automatically adjusts blade angles to different wind conditions.
– The creation of a modular rotor blade concept for an optimal location-specific design of the KWA according to the prevailing wind conditions (strong wind or weak wind).
– The development of an AI-based forecasting system for a cost-effective, fast and well-founded prediction of wind conditions and site suitability.
As part of these innovations, two prototypes are being set up, whose target groups are farms, commercial areas and public facilities with sufficient space and corresponding energy requirements. Here, efficient and economical KWA can close the gaps to complete energy self-sufficiency that arise, for example, with PV systems during the night or in winter. The project consortium covers the entire value chain, from developers (universities, research and development institutions) to producers (SMEs) and end users (farms and industrial estates), where the prototypes are to be installed.
