IBIS Power and TU/e Collaborate to Revolutionize Wind Energy in Cities
Eindhoven, Friday, 2 May 2025.
IBIS Power partners with Eindhoven University to enhance urban wind energy via PowerNEXT. The goal is to increase annual output per turbine to 20-25 MWh, showcasing innovation in renewable energy.
Innovative Urban Wind Technology
The Netherlands-based IBIS Power has engineered PowerNEXT, a sophisticated modular rooftop system that integrates wind turbines within a nest of solar panels [1]. This innovative design leverages fundamental physics principles to maximize energy generation in urban environments [1]. The system has already demonstrated its effectiveness through successful installations across multiple Dutch cities, including The Hague, Rotterdam, and Eindhoven, and has recently expanded into Belgium [1].
Advanced Research Methodology
The collaboration employs cutting-edge research methods, combining Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) with Artificial Intelligence to optimize the system’s design [1]. Under the technical leadership of Dr. Hamid Montazeri from TU/e and IBIS Power’s Dr. Alejandro Claro Barreto and Ben de Laat, the research considers multiple variables including wind speed, direction, building shapes, and surrounding structures [1]. This comprehensive approach reflects the growing importance of urban wind energy solutions, particularly as cities account for approximately 75% of global power consumption [3].
Market Impact and Future Potential
The timing of this collaboration is particularly significant, as recent studies indicate that vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) are expected to dominate future wind technology due to their efficiency and space advantages in urban settings [3]. The integration of such systems into urban environments has shown promising results, with some implementations achieving energy consumption reductions of up to 30.88% in residential buildings [5]. This aligns with PowerNEXT’s ambitious goal of reaching 20-25 MWh annual wind energy output per turbine [1].