Hurricanes are a phenomenon of growing concern in the United States, with cities like New Orleans in danger of disappearing. Can you imagine that extreme winds or storm surges could be used to produce energy? This is something that scientists have just tested and that will allow us to absorb monsters like Katrina.
From devastating impacts to infinite energy: what could we do with hurricanes
The powerful winds of hurricanes hold enormous potential as an energy source if only we could capture their force. Traditional wind turbines are not designed to withstand hurricane-force winds, shutting down to avoid damage in extreme weather.
But new floating wind turbine designs that can operate in the toughest conditions may finally allow us to harness the incredible power of hurricanes. Floating wind turbines placed offshore in hurricane-prone areas could utilize the strong, consistent winds of hurricanes to generate abundant clean energy.
The winds in a hurricane can blow at over 157 mph, containing exponentially more energy than normal winds. But the challenge has always been creating turbines and platforms tough enough to stay afloat and operate in the midst of monstrous cyclones.
That’s now changing with innovative turbine and platform designs built to survive ultra-harsh open ocean environments. These new floating turbines may finally make it possible to extract green energy from hurricanes, instead of just suffering their devastating impacts.
Traditional wind turbines can´t withstand winds in hurricanes: we have a problem
Traditional wind turbines are not designed to operate in hurricane-force winds, which can exceed 120 mph. Onshore turbines are especially vulnerable, as the intense winds can damage blades, topple towers, and send debris flying. This forces turbine operators to manually shut down the turbines during a hurricane.
Offshore turbines mounted on fixed foundations also face risks from major storms. Although they are located in open waters with steady wind, the platforms and towers are not built to withstand hurricane conditions. Operators must shut these turbines down well in advance of an approaching hurricane.
Shutting down turbines is a safety precaution, but it results in a loss of clean energy production when winds are at their strongest. It highlights why traditional turbine designs cannot make use of the immense wind power potential from hurricanes and tropical storms.
The project that will produce energy with hurricanes: this is Altaeros Bat
The Altaeros Buoyant Airborne Turbine (BAT) is an innovative floating wind turbine designed by Massachusetts-based company Altaeros Energies. This unique design allows the BAT to be deployed at high altitudes, harnessing stronger and more consistent winds compared to traditional ground-based or sea-based turbines.
The BAT consists of an inflatable helium-filled shell that lifts the turbine and generator over 1,000 feet into the air. Strong tethers keep the BAT steady and feed electricity down to the ground. The lightweight but durable carbon-fiber frame allows the BAT to withstand winds up to 126 mph.
Unlike stationary turbines, the BAT can align itself with optimal wind direction and velocity since it is not fixed to the ground. It ascends higher to capture faster winds during the day, then descends at night when wind speeds are slower. This flexibility results in up to 2.5 times the energy output compared to conventional turbines.
The BAT’s minimal ground footprint and mobility make it ideal for remote locations that lack transmission infrastructure. It can also be rapidly deployed for on-demand power generation. Altaeros envisions the BAT being used for disaster relief, military bases, offshore oil rigs and remote villages that need reliable electricity.
It is clear that producing energy with hurricanes is a science-fiction-like invention, but now we have managed to make it possible. The list is long, and Katrina, Sandy or Patricia have caused havoc in our country (many of them irreparable). However, we are now closer to putting them at the service of our electricity grid.