Current wind farm technology requires a lot of space between blades. A new report proposes that "counter-rotating vertical-axis wind turbines" would draw power more efficiently on less land.
Hamish Pritchard at BBC News explains that although the vertical-axis turbines are "less efficient individually than the propeller-style turbines, they are able to use turbulent winds from many directions." The technology is currently being tested in the California desert by engineers from CalTech.
The "school of fish" influence is reflected in the momentum gained, rather than lost, by clumping the turbines close together. Current blades are less efficient when close together because of turbulence, but the new turbines benefit from the funneled wind because they can gather gusts from all directions. The next step for CalTech's team is to see if the effect will work on a larger scale.
FULL STORY: Schools of fish help squeeze more power from wind farms

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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