Photo and article credit: Revmodo

Designers from McCamley UK  have released a prototype of a new wind turbine designed for the small spaces and changing wind speeds of cities. The cool-looking vertical axis wind turbine turbine can be built in sizes ranging from a tiny 1 kW model to a megawatt of capacity. It also packs flat for easy shipping, and can quickly be assembled and installed on a rooftop without a mast.

The vertical-axis design, compared to the standard horizontal design seen at wind farms, means the turbines take up less space. They can also run at very low wind speeds, and continue to work at high, gusting speeds.

Traditional turbines, which are horizontal axis, work rather poorly in urban environments, as they are dependent on steady wind speeds, not usually available in urban environments.