Novel Wind Tubrine Concepts

The wind energy industry is currently looking for novel wind energy generation solutions that can overcome technical and cost barriers associated with traditional onshore HAWT wind turbines. Wind turbine requirements for offshore sites, floating offshore sites, low wind speed sites, high density wind farm sites, airbourne wind energy etc. are likely to be different than the requirements from a traditional onshore wind turbine site. With the above in mind, this PhD will involve determining what novel wind turbine solutions are currently suggested in the industry, literature, patents etc. Following the identification of the novel concepts, a levelised cost of energy (LCoE) analysis approch will be taken to determine the turbine types with most potential at sites with varying characteristics, for example onshore, fixed offshore, floating offshore, low wind speed sites, high density wind farm sites etc. As well as the LCoE based research, a technical feasibility research will also be implemented on all concepts considered to ensure their technical feasibility and SWOT's are clearly identified.