This design replaces three large blades with 82-foot poles and 33-foot vertical wings that generate power as they move along a track.

A Bill Gates-backed start-up aims to revolutionize wind energy with a new, efficient, mass-producible, and versatile design.

US-based firm Airloom Energy’s innovative renewable energy technology to maximize wind power’s potential has now gained significant backing from investors. The list also includes Breakthrough Energy Ventures, the innovation platform led by Microsoft founder Gates, and the state of Wyoming.

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The additional $13.75 million funding will help Airloom establish a pilot project in Wyoming to validate power output and system effectiveness and show that it can produce wind energy for a third of the price of traditional horizontal-axis turbines.

“As global demand for renewable energy increases, Airloom’s technology offers a breakthrough in reducing the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) while addressing the supply chain challenges that have long hindered the wind sector,” said Neal Rickner, CEO of Airloom, in a statement.

According to the business, the pilot project in Wyoming will commence in the summer of 2025.

Innovative turbine solutions

The size and complexity of Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbines (HAWTs) are increasing, and supply chain problems and interest rates are impeding further cost reduction.

Traditional turbines are produced in low volumes using specialized materials. They require unique transportation equipment for shipping and large cranes along with specially trained crews for installation.

Wind turbines are continually growing in size, with each blade reaching lengths longer than a football field. A recently installed offshore turbine in China stands as tall as a 50-story building. Constructing a standard turbine’s base can require up to 40 truckloads of concrete.

With its straightforward, mass-manufacturable design, Airloom adopts a fundamentally different strategy. It allows for increased energy density and a smaller visual footprint without the need for the extensive infrastructure that conventional turbines demand.

For many years, the goal has been to develop wind technology that is more efficient and simpler to install. However, prior attempts to replace HAWTs have failed due to insufficient combination of high energy production, cheap capital costs, and system robustness.

Affordable wind solutions

Aiming to provide a solution, the Airloom’s prototype demonstrates a new advanced technology. Instead of the conventional three large blades on a single tower, this design features 82-foot-high poles supporting a track with 33-foot-long vertical “wings.”

As the wind blows, the wings move along the track, generating power. This innovative approach allows the wings to produce mechanical force, similar to how traditional turbine blades turn a gearbox.

Traditional wind turbines are large because longer blades can move faster at the tips, generating more energy. However, this new design achieves comparable energy production with fewer components. The structure is simpler, supporting the equivalent of a wind turbine blade’s tip.

Using less material significantly lowers capital costs, making the design less than one-tenth the cost of a conventional turbine, and installation is more affordable.

According to Airloom, unlike traditional turbines, which often require large cranes for setup—sometimes costing $50,000 just to deliver—the components of this new system can be transported easily on standard tractor-trailers, enabling wind power installation in previously inaccessible locations.

According to a statement, as Airloom develops its unique pilot project, it is engaging with wind developers, asset owners, and power producers to seek partnerships for future initiatives. It claims that it is trying to create a coalition of industry stakeholders and early adopters who will gain early access as Airloom begins to expand.