Wind power is a growing part of Hawai‘i’s energy mix. As discussions continue about potential projects on different islands and even offshore, researchers are keeping an eye on some developments in Asia. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.
When you think of wind power, you probably imagine those giant propellers spinning in the breeze. That’s the standard design for harnessing wind energy—but when the winds speed up to hurricane strength, that can be a damaging time for the windmills.
And that’s where a Japanese inventor named Atsushi Shimizu has what may prove to be a better idea. His design change sounds relatively simple, but it’s potentially revolutionary. Instead of a propeller, think of an old-fashioned egg beater. The concept is to use rotating cylinders to generate electricity from the wind. Bloomberg reports his company has built a prototype that’s about 23 feet high—using three of those rotating cylinders.
Right now, most wind mills are designed to shut down when winds approach about 60 miles an hour. The new model is built to operate at wind speeds three times that intensity. With the support of the Japanese government, the company’s currently trying it out on Okinawa. Japan’s government wants to triple its use of wind power over the next 14 years—although it’s starting from a relatively low base. According to figures from the Global Wind Energy Council, last year wind power capacity around the world surpassed nuclear power for the first time.
