Portuguese 
Spanish 
University of Alberta Scientists, Located in Canada, Are Developing Innovative Wind Turbines Inspired by Nothing More than an Andean Condor, the Heaviest Bird in the World.
According to information from a study published in the journal Energy, the innovative design focuses on increasing energy efficiency.
In this sense, the technology utilizes the shape of the wings of this bird, which is known for its ability to reach an impressive speed of 124 mph in a single flight, taking advantage of updrafts.
Inspiration from Nature: Wind Turbines Based on the Andean Condor
According to the study, the technique used by specialists is biomimicry, which applies biological principles to solve human problems.
-
Brazilian scientists are simultaneously advancing two research projects on clean hydrogen and driving solutions that could transform the energy matrix, enhance industrial competitiveness, and accelerate large-scale emission reduction targets.
-
Advancement in renewable energy: A R$ 150 million project launched by Petrobras and Finep aims to create state-of-the-art electrolyzers for green hydrogen, strengthening national research and preparing Brazil to compete in a billion-dollar energy market.
-
Illiterate or semi-literate grandmothers were trained to repair solar systems, open rural workshops, and light up homes that still depended on kerosene.
-
The world has bet on green hydrogen as the fuel of the future, but now faces the side effect: producing 1 kilogram requires about 9 liters of ultrapure water, and the largest projects on the planet are precisely in the driest regions of the Earth, where water is already scarce for people.
In this project, the focus is on winglets, wing tips that curve upward, common in airplanes and gliders. These elements help optimize flight, allowing them to cover greater distances with less energy.
Engineers, in collaboration with Biome Renewables, are adapting these ‘C’-shaped winglets for the blades of wind turbines. Studies indicate that this modification can increase turbine efficiency by up to 10%.
The study also explains that simulations using computational fluid dynamics show an increase of 9.69% in energy production.
Moreover, the publication states that the innovation is feasible with a modest investment and aims to increase energy production from existing turbines.
Not only that, the innovation may reduce electricity costs in Alberta and decrease reliance on fossil fuels.
“This change could make some of our wind farms economically viable on low-wind days,” said Brian Fleck, fluid dynamics specialist and co-author of the study, in the journal publication.
Biomimicry Revolutionizes Energy Efficiency
According to the study, airplane wings generate lift through the pressure difference between their upper and lower parts, a principle based on Bernoulli’s law.
However, vortices form at the wingtips, which serve to increase aerodynamic drag and reduce flight efficiency.
Winglets work to reduce these vortices, adjusting the airflow at the wingtips and decreasing induced drag.
Thus, according to the publication in the journal Energy, flight performance can be improved, a technique that the Andean condor has applied for millennia and is now being adapted for wind turbines.
For the authors of the study, the idea promises a more efficient and sustainable future for energy generation and demonstrates once again how nature inspires scientific advancements, offering innovative and sustainable solutions to current challenges.
Condor não é pássaro, não pertence à ordem dos passeriformes!