“Go-with-the-Flow” Wind Turbine

Here’s a concept for a new design in wind turbines.  Contrary to what readers may have come to expect when they read that first sentence, this appears to make sense.

The idea is based on the fact that, although today’s three-blade turbines are highly efficient, they do not function in extremely strong winds, and are hard to build in enormous size. These folks at the University of Virginia have engineered a two-blade system that bends in high wind conditions, rather like the tallest pines trees.  Thus far, their demos have performed very nicely.