Academics at Flinders University have teamed with local start-up VAWT-X Energy to install the innovative wind turbine prototype in a field south of Adelaide, and in two weeks will test it for the first time.
If successful, the twin-blade creation that promises greater efficiency and less noise could show up in more places, with wineries, hotels, and local councils expressing interest in the technology.
Wind makes up a significant portion of renewable energy in Australia, representing 12 per cent of all electricity generated during 2023.
But the location of large wind turbines is heavily restricted due to their size, the noise they create, and the airflow they require to work, Flinders University engineering lecturer Dr Amir Zanj said.
To address these challenges, university researchers teamed with a local start-up to test a double-bladed helix vertical wind turbine that could potentially capture wind from multiple directions and operate more quietly.
"We wanted to know is it possible to bring this wind-harvesting technology closer to society and to use more wind around us, not just bounding ourselves to wind farms," Dr Zanj told AAP.
"Like solar power on top of roofs, we thought about decentralised wind energy production."
The wind turbine prototype can potentially capture wind energy from multiple directions. (Vawt-X Energy/AAP PHOTOS)
The prototype, created after "thousands of simulations", was installed in a field on the Fleurieu Peninsula on Friday, he said, and would be tested in a fortnight.
Researchers faced several challenges to creating the six-kilowatt test model, however, with teams in a newly formed Advanced Wind Energy Technology research group investigating aerodynamic, structural and maintenance challenges.
The fresh design had the potential to solve traditional barriers for wind turbines, VAWT-X Energy founder Gary Andrews said, and widen their market.
"We believe our (turbines) are not only more efficient but also more accessible for applications like off-grid power and sustainable energy solutions for small businesses and farms," he said.
If the test proves successful, Dr Zanj said the next step would be to produce an 80kW model up to five times larger than the prototype, and to investigate manufacturing possibilities.
Smaller models capable of generating two kilowatts of power could one day be used in residential settings, he said, and the group has already had inquiries from businesses and organisations not usually associated with the renewable energy technology.
"There have been requests from wineries, farmers, small factories ... hotels and motels, and different cities," he said.
In addition to private investment, the research team received a $300,000 grant from the South Australian government as part of its target to reach 100 per cent renewable energy generation by 2027.
