In a world that has become devastated by climate change, developing new and pioneering power generation methods has become a necessity. For far too long, the world has relied on the disastrous energy generation from fossil fuels; however, over the past decade or so, Dutch innovators have been working on a new invention called the EWICON that is set to reshape the global energy market, in particular the wind sector.
The world needs to end its reliance on the fossil fuel sector, and soon
The need to reduce carbon emissions has become a top priority for a litany of developed nations, and the wind power sector has the potential to completely eradicate climate change through its clean energy generation that does not rely on fossil fuels but simply needs a strong breeze to produce substantial amounts of power.
Wind turbines offer clean energy while reducing emissions; however, they are cumbersome and require large plots of land that are simply not available in urban settings. The enormous size of wind turbines means they require significantly large plots of land to operate, which most cities around the world are in short supply of. Enter a new invention that was originally created way back in March 2013, and has since been developed to reach new and exciting possibilities, the EWICON, or Electrostatic Wind Energy Converter.
EWICONs have become the latest invention, taking the world by storm
An EWICON produces energy from a steel frame that is connected to a series of insulated tubes arranged horizontally, which in turn are filled with several electrodes and nozzles that continuously release positively-charged water particles into the air. As the wind blows those particles away, the voltage of the EWICON changes and creates an electric field, which can then be sent to electrical grids.
A prototype was installed at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands
Yes, we know, we are thinking the same thing, the Dutch really do love their windmills, or in this case, the modern-day equivalent of a windmill. After the innovative EWICON was first invented, a prototype was installed at the Delft University of Technology campus in March 2013 that featured a bladeless wind turbine. Since then, other Dutch inventors have created their own EWICONs to meet the demand for wind power generation in urban areas.
Energy output from EWICONs is dependent on several mitigating factors
The energy output capacity of an EWICON is dependent on several factors, such as wind speed, the number of water droplets in the device, and, lastly, the strength of the electric field. According to EWICON developers, the device could easily be installed on land or at sea, much like its substantially larger wind turbine cousin, but at a fraction of the cost.
The very first design for an EWICON was developed by architecture firm Mecanoo, using astonishing technology developed by Delft Technical University researchers Johan Smit and Dhiradj Djairam. Since the EWICON does not have any moving parts, maintenance is limited to the nozzles that release the water droplets. This makes them immensely efficient.
The prototype was installed at the Delft University of Technology campus
The prototype has been running for well over a decade now, with other Dutch companies developing their own versions, such as the Dutch Windwheel Corporation, a consortium of Dutch companies.
EWICONs can be adapted to match any requirements for urban usage, laying the foundation for the cities of tomorrow to have EWICONs dotted around the urban landscape. The EWICON provides the kind of energy generation that the world needs, while still keeping the environment at the forefront of concerns. In the twelve years since its creation, the technology of EWICONs has improved significantly.
