One of the biggest disadvantages of wind energy is the cost and difficulty to incorporate a traditional wind turbine system in an urban setting.  Small building sites, height restrictions and dense development make it extremely challenging to incorporate a large, tall wind system into a project.

Aerotecture International has developed 1 KW and 1.8 KW areoturbines that are perfect for urban application.  The 5′ x 10′ units are mounted directly to the building structure and can be mounted in a horizontal or vertical orientation.  Basic requirements are minimal wind obstructions, an average site windspeed of 10 mph and a 40′ height at the installation point.

The catch is the cost, estimated to be  $15,000 and $20,000, respectively, for the 1 KW and 1.8 KW models (not including delivery and install), and a windspeed requirement of 32  mph to hit their rated outputs.   According to the manufacturer, costs ‘will dramatically decrease with the advent of mass production’.

Here’s a video of the product in action:

Any thoughts?