German engineers have invented a compact wind turbine that generates 83% more electricity than existing turbines of similar size. This invention could become a universal solution for off-grid home power.
The turbine was developed by researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research in collaboration with the construction company BBF Group. Its key secret lies in its hollow, lightweight rotor, made not of foam but of composite materials. Each blade is formed using 3D printing and automated fiber placement. In strong winds, the blades flex elastically, relieving stress and preventing overload on the mechanism.
The turbine performs exceptionally well in light winds: it begins rotating at just 2.7 meters per second, while most similar turbines require at least 4 meters per second. In tests, the device reached 450 rpm in winds of 10 meters per second and generated 2.5 kilowatts of power, achieving an efficiency of 53%, approaching the theoretical limit of Betz's law (59.3%).
BBF Group is currently testing five turbine prototypes designed for installation near homes or in locations requiring temporary power supply, such as during disaster relief. In the future, the company plans to replace composite materials with a single type of material for easier recycling.
