Providing our customers access to the best renewable energy solution for their true needs is our ultimate goal.  Because we offer a unique solution that is a vertical axis wind turbine (or VAWT) in addition to being able to meet customers’ wind power needs with the more common horizontal wind turbines (HAWT), we are often asked, “What is the difference between a VAWT and a HAWT (traditional, propeller-type)?”  Though it is a common question, it is a very important one when designing a system to meet wind-power requirements.

First off, we should get out of the way the fact that HAWTs are, and likely always will be, more efficient than vertical turbines.  HAWTs do typically have a higher efficiency rating, sometimes referred to as the Cp value, when turned directly into the wind.  That is the largest reason why we have all gotten so used to seeing those types of turbines looming large on the wide open horizon of places with the most consistent wind.

So, is there any advantage to using a VAWT instead?  Efficiency aside, VAWTs have a number of other positive attributes when used in places where you would not normally see a traditional turbine used.  Particularly, VAWTs can be put in an urban environment much more easily than HAWTs because they can typically operate in turbulent wind normally found in those environments.  Already there are VAWTs being used in small, residential applications in cities like Chicago.  Some VAWTs are designed to turn at much slower rpm’s, and are therefore more acceptable for urban areas where noise pollution can be a big concern.   Also, VAWTs can operate at slower rpm’s, and can therefore continue to produce energy at lower wind speeds.  All of these differences (advantages, under the right circumstance) aside, it still makes sense to take advantage of the efficiency of HAWT designs where the circumstance is more suitable (i.e. a rural or small town community wind project).

In the end, both designs can have significant advantages over each other depending on their proper application.  Of course, that does not mean that innovation will not continue to march forward.  Future technology and innovation could see both designs re-thought and re-worked so they can be utilized in places and in applications where they are currently not well suited.