Kanoa Winds Inc., a Hawai‘i-based startup with ties to Japan, is bringing cutting-edge clean energy technology to Kaka‘ako Makai in Honolulu. Partnering with the Hawai‘i Community Development Authority (HCDA), Kanoa Winds will install a 0.5 kilowatt Vertical Coaxial Contra-rotating Twin Blades (VCCT) wind turbine in the Entrepreneur Sandbox for research and demonstration.
The VCCT wind turbine has been successfully used in Japan for over 15 years in densely populated areas, industrial facilities, and mixed-use communities. Notably, the technology has been endorsed by the Japan Falconiformes Center for its safety and minimal environmental impact. One of its key features is generating power at a wider range of wind speeds compared to traditional horizontal-axis wind turbines.
Kaname Takeya, the founder and CEO of Kanoa Winds and a native of Japan, highlights the ability of birds to coexist with the VCCT technology, emphasizing its safety and reliability. The upcoming study in Hawai‘i will focus on wind speed power generation, equipment load, stability tests, safety evaluation, wildlife impact, and environmental assessment.
The installation of the VCCT unit near the Hawai‘i Technology Development Corporation Entrepreneur Sandbox will contribute valuable data to the feasibility of implementing this technology in the state for a clean energy future. With its small size and ability to operate at a wide range of wind speeds, the VCCT wind turbine offers a promising alternative for harnessing the power of wind in a sustainable and efficient manner.
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