Is the Aeroturbine Windturbine a Viable Source of Power for Buildings?

[Astronuc]

There is one installed on a building near my office. I'll post pics later.

The rotor is very simple, like two semi-circular troughs twisted around the central axis.
http://www.aerotecture.com/Factsheets.html
http://www.aerotecture.com/510VSpec-Sheet2.pdf

http://www.aerotecture.com/products.html

The 510V Aeroturbine consists of a helical rotor and airfoils housed within a 6 ft. x 10 ft. steel cage and weighs approximately 450 lbs. with the alternator attached. The 510V is intended for vertical mounting and can be either bolted or ballasted down. Vertical Aeroturbines work well in winds from any direction, and therefore the presence of a dominant wind direction is not critical. The 510V is modular and may be stacked when needing more power.

All Aeroturbines are designed and custom-built to fit the architecture of the building. Exact costs will depend on project location, number of turbines purchased, and the required mounting method. The 510V Aeroturbine has an estimated cost of $15,000. This price includes the rotor, cage, mounting structures, and electronic equipment. The installed cost of Aeroturbines will dramatically decrease with the advent of mass production.

One needs a strong wind for any appreciable electrical power. One has to so some research on the local wind conditions, probably starting with the local weather station to get an hour-by-hour wind speed curve, and use that to estimate the kWh/yr.

 

[LURCH]

Saw a couple of these on the Green Channel not long ago, but those were mounted horizontally, which made wind direction critical. They remind me of the windmill my family once tried to make by cutting old oil-drums in half!