THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: City-based entrepreneur, Arun George, has a simple formula to solve the energy crisis in developing economies. A personal wind turbine, the size of a ceiling fan, that could power an entire household forever. “We have a coal-based, state-sponsored electricity supply grid which is unable to meet the growing power demands of our society. For under Rs 50,000 our wind turbine can meet more than the 3kWh of electricity consumed by an average Indian household,” begins the 30-year-old, who had earlier toyed with the idea of creating a high-efficiency generator before zeroing in on the wind turbine. This patent-pending technology named Gyroscopic Axial Flux Turbine developed by George’s startup, Avant Garde Innovations, will be available in the market this November.
Global impact
Besides being shortlisted amongst the ‘Top 20 Cleantech Innovations in India’ by the UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization), their innovation has also received a commendation by the UN, as their work reflects one of UN’s goals–providing affordable and clean energy to the globe. Though a sizable share of homes in Kerala already harnessing solar power, George counters that the wind turbine is superior to solar panels, when it comes to efficiency. “Wind turbine, takes up only 30 per cent of the space occupied by solar panels, can make land usage smarter and can produce a minimum of 4kWh. While solar panels can only produce a maximum of 4kWh on a sunny day,” claims George, citing that solar panels are prone to deterioration after constant exposure to humidity and dust.
Clean break
Avant Garde’s wind turbine pilot has already succeeded in powering the Madre De Deus Church in Vettakaud (Thiruvananthapuram), making it the world’s first wind energy powered church. Currently, high-efficieny wind turbines can cost upwards of Rs 2 lakhs but Avant Garde is able to offer its product under Rs 50,000–thanks to some ingenious design modificatrions. Replacing the traditional cylindrical motor with a simpler axial flux generator and using the strongest available magnet (neodymium), they’ve redefined how wind turbines operate. Converting kinetic energy into electricity with minimal energy loss, their wind turbines can generate electricity even at wind speeds as low of 1.5 meters per second. “We are currently exploring various possibilities with wind energy and are in the process to make clean energy more affordable and mobile,” shares George, who is also creating India Clean Energy Cluster, a consortium of startups, who solely rely on renewable energy. Details: avantgardeinnovations.com