Aiming to cut costs of offshore wind power, British engineers are developing a vertical-axis turbine that would eliminate the need for a tower, reduce stress on blades and foundations and ease installation work. The developer of the 10-MW device hopes to have a 1-MW proof-of-concept machine at work within two years. A full-scale demonstration would follow.
The device has two rotors attached to inclined arms. These arms rise from a vertical axle in a module sitting just above sea level on a steel jacket or other support, like a broad V-shaped sculpture on a low pedestal.