Renewable energy produced from the wind has garnered much attention and support in recent years but is often criticized for its low output and lack of reliability. But now a super power wind turbine has come along that may be just what the renewable energy industry needs. The MagLev wind turbine, which was first unveiled at the Wind Power Asia exhibition in Beijing, is expected take wind power technology to the next level with magnetic levitation.
Magnetic levitation is an extremely efficient system for wind energy. Here’s how it works: the vertically oriented blades of the wind turbine are suspended in the air above the base of the machine, replacing the need for ball bearings. The turbine uses “full-permanent” magnets, not electromagnets — therefore, it does not require electricty to run. The full-permanent magnet system employs neodymium (“rare earth”) magnets and there is no energy loss through friction. This also helps reduce maintenance costs and increases the lifespan of the generator.
Maglev wind turbines have several advantages over conventional wind turbines. For instance, they’re able to use winds with starting speeds as low as 1.5 meters per second (m/s). Also, they could operate in winds exceeding 40 m/s. Currently, the largest conventional wind turbines in the world produce only five megawatts of power. However, one large maglev wind turbine could generate one gigawatt of clean power, enough to supply energy to 750,000 homes. It would also increase generation capacity by 20% over conventional wind turbines and decrease operational costs by 50%. If that isn’t enough, the maglev wind turbines will be operational for about 500 years!
Construction began on the world’s largest production site for maglev wind turbines in central China on November 5, 2007. Zhongke Hengyuan Energy Technology has invested 400 million yuan in building this facility, which will produce maglev wind turbines with capacities ranging from 400 to 5,000 Watts. In the US, Arizona-based MagLev Wind Turbine Technologies will be manufacturing these turbines. Headed by long-time renewable energy researcher Ed Mazur, the company claims that it will be able to deliver clean power for less than one cent per kilowatt hour with this new technology. It also points out that building a single giant maglev wind turbine would reduce construction and maintenance costs and require much less land than hundreds of conventional turbines. The estimated cost of building this colossal structure is $53 million.
141 Responses to “THE MAGLEV: The Super-powered Magnetic Wind Turbine”
get the free Inhabitat newsletter
more popular stories >
more popular stories >
more popular stories >
[...] alternando posibilidades Ayer estube leyendo un libreto de hidroaysen, que explicaba todas las ventajas de instalar las represas en la región (por supuesto no habían desventajas, ni una balanza honesta de la situación). Entre estas “ventajas” estaba el hecho de que solo ocuparian cerca de 6000 hectareas, que era la nada misma comparado con la instalación de energía eolica o geotermica. Entre tanta basura (como decir que es tecnología actual siendo que en los paises desarrollados, la hidroelectrica va quedando obsoleta por el alto impacto socio-ambiental que tiene) uno se da cuenta que ni siquiera es una visión distinta de la vida la que tienen, digna de respetar , sino que algo verdaderamente sucio, lleno de mentiras y desdén hacia como pueda afectar el mundo su proyecto. Y volviendo a lo central, una amiga me mostró la otra vez una nueva forma de energia eolica, que consiste en una megaturbina. Esta no usa electricidad ya que funciona magneticamente, requeriendo apenas velocidades de apenas 1,5 metros por segundo. Este aparato ocupa apenas 40 hectareas y tiene la capacidad de producir más energía que 1000 molinos. La instalación cuesta cerca de 53 millones de dolares, que me parece razonable para tanto beneficio a largo plazo. Deben haber trancas, no las conozco sino las pondria tambien, pero me parece bastante interesante como para profundizar. La información original esta aqui MAGLEV [...]
so, what is the stock symbol for the company that owns the rights to this thing???
i believe that this is a great invention but it wont be enough to put fossil fuel companies out of buisness. if this really does take to the liking of many people then we would need over 300 in the US alone to cover all the people. and think about china like 1.5billion people about 700million homes thats over 1000 of these turbines just for china. does china have enough space for this? maybe it would have enough space if we added solar pannels in with the turbines so it would cut the number of turbines down to around 900.
A study done in australia in 70s found that most extreme loss of native birdlife after predation by introduced animals was glass windows. Often the injured/dazed birds are snapped-up by cats and assumed as kills or removed. This is why we aren’t so aware of the damage glass cladding in particular does.
Has any (prototype) been build?
What a scam! The official site is also nothing else than a phishing site directed to deceive those with the IQ of a dodo. If it’s for real, someone should contact me asap coz im seriously interested in buying one myself…and would still be interested in buying one if it generates only a ‘meagre’ 500MW of clean energy…
If I’m contacted via this site, i’ll travel to wherever anyone can prove that i can see one of these turbines being built to secure a puchase immediately. If I buy one, rest assured my partners will buy too…Until then i suggest no-one wastes more time fantasizing about the wonders of science fiction
I’m eagerly awaiting a reply from these con artists!
[...] THE MAGLEV: The Super-powered Magnetic Wind Turbine (gracias [...]
I read some of the posts and I didn’t see this point made. Sorry if someone said it and I didn’t see it.
I saw a lot of people pointing out the torque issue with the VAWTs. I didn’t see anyone point out the fact that this turbine is capable at operating at extremely low wind speeds. Even if these couldn’t withstand the high windspeeds that HAWTs do, they could (possibly) still be installed in areas with lower windspeeds and achieve higher efficiency than both hawts and vawts.
Don’t believe anything you read. Some indicators that this is a hoax:
1) the company working on it was never heard before
2) the website of the company is not accessible to the public
3) no specs are available
4) there are only artist impressions available
5) anybody with some knowledge of windenergy can see that the maglev is a turbine of the drag or savonius type. This type of wind turbine has only half the aerodynamic efficiency compared to a modern propeller type wind turbine.
6) Friction of the bearings cause only a very small energy loss. It is a bit weird to put a lot of engineering effort in solving a problem that is not really a problem.
7) If something sounds too good to be true, it is generally not true.
Maglev is an excelent piece of research to harness wind energy.through our project we would be happy to promote this technology and help a trillonath part by saving a lot of non-renewable source of energy.Congrats to all who are behind this!
I am fond of technology. It will be future wind turbine with green power for the society. It will be the symbol of the green & safe environment. I will wait for the day of tremendous power received from this Maglev turbine to hte society.
Green is the best.
I am third year electric engg. student. iwant the detailed information about the internal structure of the magleve wind turbine. i hope that you will send me that.
ok
have a nice day
very interesting its the solution to save No renovable energy¡¡¡¡
Me paerece un concepto muy bueno para producir energia y con la eficiencia que lo muestran, hoy en dia producir energia con los recursos del viento si estar dañando nuestra naturaleza es lo que necesitamos,. quisiera que dieran mas información para las personas que no tenemos los recursos economicos, y asi tambien ayudar con la investigacion. En nuestro pais tenemos el privilegio de tener todos los climas, mas de 12 horas de sol al dia, lugares donde hay viento las 24 horas, entonces me parece importante aprovechar todos estos recursos naturales para producir energia. gracias .
[...] MagLev Wind Turbine is a big step forward in the world of wind power. By using magnetism to levitate the blades [...]
I am sorry, but this is complete bullshit. Why the hell should MagLev bearings rise an efficiency of wind turbine more than a few fractions of per cent? Some marketing swindler used magic word “MagLev”, and everybody feels happy that some breakthrough was achieved and clean energy is near hand. Wind turbine is not perpetuum mobile, even with MagLev support. After years, you believers will say “Energy Lobby” killed it! No. This is nonsense from the beginning. (Not wind turbines, but miracle improvement by fabulous MagLev). I am sorry. See what “Hans” and “James PG” and others say below.
This is a proposed new product not a current one. The manufacturer involved is a Chinese producer of regular horizontal-axis turbines, and lists this new item under its “research” window. Below is the website of the company. Let’s keep an open mind and see if it pans out. “Settle down, Beavis!”
http://www.zkenergy.com/en/yfzx.asp
Perhaps the real potential of the meglev wind project is not contained within the bearings, the fin structure, or any other physical attribute, but instead with these simple ideas: A) that to solve problems of a global scale, we need to start thinking “outside the box”. B) we need to start thinking together and then working together. C:) we must realize that we cannot, must not be afraid of making a mistake…indeed mistakes are the precipatator of many advancements, for in their solving often comes new ideas.
If meglev is credible or a hoax to garner investment money matters not…for if even one person reading this blog comes up with a new twist on this idea and then through trial and error builds a different prototype….then it is all worthwhile. Never be afraid of the naysayers. Pragmaticus.
If your pruduct is so good and it seems to be, how come we don’t ear anymore about it ?!?! You ear about mega
projects all over the world yet all with conventionnal wind turbines. In the province of quebec alone they are taking about a project of 4000 mw. Either your product is not what it’s seem to be or you have a very poor marketing dept.
That really cool and all…but 53$ million dollars!? To power 750 homes? I don’t know if that’s worth it. It’s great that their doing this, but I doubt it’ll be conventional until it’s alot cheaper =D
Kelly is concerned about bird kills; she should like the maglev vertical axis wind turbine (MVAWT) because it reduces the land area required by a factor of 600! That also makes it much more feasible to have MVAWTs out at sea. Once permanent-magnet bearings are mass-produced, they will also ne installed in “flying” wind turbines that float like a blimp 200-500 ft above the ground where wind speeds are doubled.
The limiting factor on MVAWTs is the availability of neodymium, on which China has a near-monopoly. The metal is needed to build permanent magnets. Note, electromagnets consume way too much power. Indications are that China wants to leverage its monopoly for domestic development. In addition to power, they have announced ambitious plans for a maglev train network operating at 300 mph (500 km per hour). All that takes Neodymium.
Ive been researching Maglev Wind Turbines and found a company in the UK that supplies them. The wind turbines are a smaller scale but still have the advatages over horizontal ones. Thier website has more information: http://ukmaglevwindturbines.co.uk/
I am interseted to know the new development of vertical wind turbine. I can get good NdFeB magnet easily.
very good
ALMI Stockholm Anställda stjäl kundernas idéer och säljer vidare. Det var min ide från början som jag ville ha hjälp av ALMI for att utveckla men dom tog den och sålde vidare. Sekretess; Vad är det??????
please give me all detail information about meglev wind turbine i am very intrested to know about it. i hope that you will send me that. my emai add. shayonakk@yahoo.co.in
I have made such a wind turbine i.e. MaGLeV WIND Turbine as my final year project to make the invention visible in real aspects. And by the work of some months the turbine is ready.
With the use of my mechanical engg. Concepts with help of my friends and prof. It is made.
The turbine is working well installed in the college. And generating power.
In this project, The blade used are of aluminium and on the base installed are rare earth magnet. The blades are designed with the help of only the picture shown here.
We have given the demo of the turbine .
This comments is given for people who are not able to believe on such a brilliant invention.
[...] you roll your eyes at yet another vertical axis concept, take a look at the technology under the hood. The design’s potential lays in the fact that most [...]
People, Maglev – can’t hurt, not the issue. Less Bird Kill – So what, not the issue. Size – Scaling resolves it, not the issue. Backup coal-diesel-hydrogen – whatever is economically available – not the issue. Impact on “putting oil companies out of business” negligible – not the issue.
The issue is simply that we need more energy, cleaner than fossil fuel,and hopefully not radioactive, period. The more wind and solar the better, and the most efficient and economical systems will prevail in the end.
The quickest way to become energy independent would to develop wind/solar systems that all homeowners can afford. I consider affordable to mean a cost equivalent to no more than five years of grid power bills. Get homes off the grid and let the grid power utilities concentrate on the needs of government and business needs.
If you want to invest in green power, seek opportunities to develop home energy systems, or decide which technology you think the grid should move towards. Don’t be distracted by birds and bearings.
Do you know of this article jogs my memory of some other matching one who I just read elsewhere?
It is a total fraud. It’s been 3 yrs and there aren’t any super sized maglev wind turbine generating wind energy. I am sure the investors wish they have never ever heard of this before. Please save your time, money and energy. Maglev wind turbine does not exist.
We’ve got a company called Enviro-energies who created a similar concept for Jay Leno. Visit their website here: http://www.enviro-energies.com/
i am so much interested in maglev wind turbine because i want work as a project on maglev wind turbine please help me through give some detail about the manufcturing of maglev wind turbine.
i hope you will help me………
i am a engineering student.
i wnt to know the manufacturer / or proto type manufacturer in in india for maglev wind turbine hope you will help me
This is really funny. So many gullible people do not get that this story is just a joke. April fools day all year long.
I am intrested in this field of your technology . please tell us how to contact you to know more information
can sumbdy tell me how this device defies earnshaws theorem ???
How tall is this fascinating piece of equipment? What about the weight? It appears that the world energy problem is very close the an end.
Amazing!!! Need to KNOW MORE for better understanding
really cool this could go all the way
This has to be the best bet for future energy savings. Nature gave us everything we need and it’s the fact that we don’t use a large percentage of nature’s force.
Darel,
http://www.governmentauction.com