Wind Turbine Blades Covered With Photovoltaic Cells?

so when the wind is out of the north, the cells are all shaded? Then you have a mechanical connection transfering the power from the moving blades to the sationary point, wow, that will be exciting when that shorts out.

that's a pretty good idea--seems like it would increase the power output of the wind turbine.

The blades need to be as light as possible and the flex under load.

Adding the extra weight of solar cells and some way of letting the blades flex without cracking the cells would be way more trouble than it's worth.

Technically possible, but not practical

Thanks for the comments. Everyone else told me I was crazy. Of course there are practical reasons why it would seem impossible, but that's whats makes it so interesting and possible.

I need to pass this along to a company that is interested in using this technology for a large commercial application (new hospital) as one source of green energy.

Talk to you later.

Tom D'

as a practical engineering point who would do so?

As I am about to launch my new Alternative Energy Company Feb. 9,2009 for designs and applications, I would see no reason to present this to a client given all the other alternatives. I would look at their energy requirements and design systems to meet their stated goals.

Hello Tom D,

No probs with the remarks. I can see it is possible. As long as they can find a way of getting the electrical power to the ground and then to where it is needed.

I think the best option, though not the only one, is induction. Nothing has to be touching, but a coil in the pilon and in the windmill itself could take the considerable size of the blades and use them to collect the suns power as well as the wind. Is there any plans to build these in water? Because you could have the holy grail of, air, sun, and water power! BTW, is you get a rake off, remember this poor Englishman please?

Take care and please keep in touch as to how things go, OK?

Seems like a bad idea. The blades don't have that much area. They would most likely be facing the wrong way for sunlight and there would be the added complication of slip rings to remove the power.

The idea seems a little hoaky at first, but whatever solar you have could be used to power the field coil of the alternator.

Bugs and cleaning fluid would make this extremely inefficient

doing project on the wind turbine to power my house. I have formulas for designing each part except the blades.I want to charge 6v battery from it.I m having 9v dc Generator.Wind speed is 8 to 10mph.