A UAE resident with an aerospace engineering background is applying his skills to improve the tried and tested wind turbine.
"When you look at an aircraft, the wings are swept back usually," said Zishan Akhter, 33, who recently finished his PhD in mechanical and aerospace engineering from United Arab Emirates University in Al Ain.
"This is done for the purposes of enhancing the aerodynamics of the wing and I saw an opportunity that I could use this design for wind turbine blades."
Those efforts have resulted in a patent granted by the US Patent and Trademark Office, explaining UAEU's "wind turbine blade with a self-adaptive tip sweep".
Mr Akhter noted that traditional wind turbines, while simple and effective in most cases, have limitations, particularly when it comes to extremely high or low wind speeds.
The addition of a tip sweep to turbine blades, he said, helps to improve efficiency for areas where wind speeds might vary.
"When you give a sweep to the blade, it enhances the aerodynamics by reducing the tip vortices and it also makes the boundary layers of the blade more stable," he said.
Mr Akhter, who currently works as a researcher at Abu Dhabi's Technology Innovation Institute, said the design, while simple looking, took a few attempts and six months of research to ensure that any changes to the turbine blades would not add complexity and energy.
"Basically, you have to make it a passive mechanism ... that was the real challenge," he said.
As the main applicant listed on the patent, UAEU now has the potential to commercialise the invention, Mr Akhter said.
"It's an active area, which the university research office is pursuing," he said.
Also listed as an inventor on the patent is Farag Omar, a UAEU associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering.
The UAE has been positioning itself at the centre of ample wind energy developments.
In October, the country announced its first wind farm programme as part of efforts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
The programme is expected to eventually power more than 23,000 homes a year, while Abu Dhabi clean energy company Masdar says it will help to displace 120,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Towards the end of 2023, in a first for Dubai, a vertical axis wind turbine was installed on the campus of the Rochester Institute of Technology’s branch in the emirate.
The installation of the 10-kilowatt turbine was the result of a collaboration between RIT Dubai and Italy-based Ecolibri, a renewables company with a focus on wind energy.
Vertical axis wind turbines, unlike the conventional horizontal axis versions, have the ability to capture wind from any direction.
Although not connected to the UAE power grid, RIT’s structure is used to partially power the campus’s sustainability park.
While they might appear to be relatively simple, wind turbines are not without criticism and not without occasional technical problems.
Last year, shaky components on wind turbines from Siemens Energy prompted repairs that cost the company more than $1 billion to fix.
In some instances, onshore wind farms can be noisy, potentially creating problems if near residential areas.
Mr Akhter said the well-documented problems and shortcomings of existing wind turbines make the sector ripe for new solutions. He said he was still in the process of filing patents that seek to address potential noise, and wear-and-tear issues.
"Wind is going to play a significant role in the energy mix," he said. "So it will be nice to see more advanced wind turbine blades that are more efficient, produce more power, are quieter and more reliable."
Stormy seas
Weather warnings show that Storm Eunice is soon to make landfall. The videographer and I are scrambling to return to the other side of the Channel before it does. As we race to the port of Calais, I see miles of wire fencing topped with barbed wire all around it, a silent ‘Keep Out’ sign for those who, unlike us, aren’t lucky enough to have the right to move freely and safely across borders.
We set sail on a giant ferry whose length dwarfs the dinghies migrants use by nearly a 100 times. Despite the windy rain lashing at the portholes, we arrive safely in Dover; grateful but acutely aware of the miserable conditions the people we’ve left behind are in and of the privilege of choice.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 275hp at 6,600rpm
Torque: 353Nm from 1,450-4,700rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Top speed: 250kph
Fuel consumption: 6.8L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: Dh146,999
How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
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How to tell if your child is being bullied at school
Sudden change in behaviour or displays higher levels of stress or anxiety
Shows signs of depression or isolation
Ability to sleep well diminishes
Academic performance begins to deteriorate
Changes in eating habits
Struggles to concentrate
Refuses to go to school
Behaviour changes and is aggressive towards siblings
Begins to use language they do not normally use
Profile of Foodics
Founders: Ahmad AlZaini and Mosab AlOthmani
Based: Riyadh
Sector: Software
Employees: 150
Amount raised: $8m through seed and Series A - Series B raise ongoing
Funders: Raed Advanced Investment Co, Al-Riyadh Al Walid Investment Co, 500 Falcons, SWM Investment, AlShoaibah SPV, Faith Capital, Technology Investments Co, Savour Holding, Future Resources, Derayah Custody Co.
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
THE BIO
Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain
Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude
Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE
Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally
Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science
