Sometimes the simplest improvements to a system are the least obvious. That seems to be the design philosophy of Leviathan Energy, a startup that might be ready to commercialize an important innovation for the fast growing wind turbine industry.
Leviathan, not a well known company by any means, works on designs to improve wind, tidal and hydro energy systems. Two of those, wind and hydro, are the biggest sources of renewable energy outside of nuclear power. In general, they're considered mature technologies, with little room for improvement. Only a few small startups disagree.
The company's Wind Energizer looks a bit like a sloped donut built around the base of a wind turbine. Leviathan's founder, Daniel Farb, engineered the slope to push wind upward, altering the air flow in a "controlled, scientific manner". Farb is reluctant to give details at this stage, but says that the
A wind power developer called Maple Leaf India has signed a letter of intent with Leviathan for $50 million worth of Energizers, which have a payback period of 4-5 years, according to the company's website. Considering that turbines are supposed to last for decades, that makes for a great investment.
Farb also says that Leviathan has received an $8 million investment from an undisclosed European investor to commercialize more designs in Europe and North America (the Energizer will split off to a separate joint venture). The company is also working on a vertical axis wind turbine and new hydroelectric turbine designs.