Wind turbines have become a ubiquitous symbol for renewable energy and the green movement generally. That’s probably because wind is clean, natural and abundant. But while we might ordinarily think of wind power as giant white blades spinning out in empty fields, wind can actually be effectively harnessed on a smaller scale in urban environments.

Cleanfield Energy, a Canadian cleantech developer, supplies small specialized turbines that are designed to efficiently capture urban wind. Its technology, known as V3.5, is a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) that can be mounted to the ground or onto flat rooftops. It is designed to make efficient use of turbulent urban wind without the bothersome noise that is often associated with city turbines. The V3.5 is also equipped with a sophisticated monitoring interface that communicates with the turbine; for example, shutting the device down when excessive vibration is detected or when temperatures drop below -40°C. Due to this kind of advanced engineering, the turbine requires little maintenance.

“Incentives for installing wind turbines include everything from cutting energy costs and obtaining Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) status to simply demonstrating a commitment to being green,” says Tony Verrelli, CEO of Cleanfield.

However, despite the advantages of choosing wind, Cleanfield and other small wind developers are still facing serious hurdles. For instance, while the Ontario government has established new funding regulations that are aimed at fostering clean technology, Verrelli says they are still challenging for him and companies like his, as noted in the “hurdles” article in the Green Business / PricewaterhouseCoopers Cleantech roundtable coverage.

“Small wind has virtually been ignored,” he says. “The reason is difficult to understand, given that wind has been demonstrated by third-party studies to be a clean and efficient source of energy and that turbines like Cleanfield’s are 90% manufactured in Canada. In fact, by any economic measure, we would be better off moving to the United States. It is really just Canadian patriotism and the desire to see jobs created at home that keeps us in Canada.” Verrelli believe the Ontario government is doing a lot of good with its feed-in tariff program and the Green Energy Act in general, but as with any legislation, he sees value in fine-tuning what has already been established.

Amidst the challenges facing wind in Canada, Cleanfield has incorporated PV cell solar technology, which is, according to Verrelli, “far more popular with both the public and the government.” Working with McMaster University and the Ontario Centres of Excellence, Cleanfield is in the research and development phase and hopes to fully commercialize its solar nano-wire technology within 5-7 years.

Cleanfield is a growing company and despite the challenges Verrelli notes, it is posting record growth this year. During the past year, the company expanded its breadth by engaging in a joint venture in China, where it has raised millions in funding for Canadian operation. 

“In contrast to the Canadian market,” Verrelli says, “renewable energy in China has become an absolute imperative, creating a demand for clean technology that is unseen in this country.”

For more on the company, visit www.cleanfieldenergy.com.

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