Israeli startup guides wind to improve turbine output

Israel’s Leviathan Energy claims it can improve energy generation by 30 percent by altering the aerodynamics of large wind turbines from the outside.

“We use large structures to improve the power output by changing the circulation of wind,” CEO Dr. Daniel Farb told the Cleantech Group.

The company is seeking $5 million to $10 million in a Series B round to finance a large-scale demonstration of the technology and third-party verification of the claims.

The custom-designed structures are built around the base of each turbine. Dubbed Wind Energizers, the circular structures can be used for any manufacturer’s turbines.

The structures also address the deterioration of gearboxes caused by uneven wind distribution at the top and bottom of turbines. The placement of the structures can create a uniform wind flow, Farb said. In that way, the structures could result in lower maintenance costs and improved life spans for the technology.

See the Wind Energizers here »

Farb admits that neighboring residents could find the structures unsightly but says wind farm developers have been able to address the same concerns about turbines (see Horizon gets OK for Washington state wind farm).

“There have been complaints, but there are 100,000 turbines around the world, so it’s possible to overcome the objections,” he said.

Additionally, many wind farms are located far from residential areas, such as massive wind farms being built in Texas, he said (see New Texas loop to connect renewables to grid and BP, NRG start up Texas wind farm).

The technology has been demonstrated on small-scale turbines but is intended for large turbines. Leviathan plans to outsource manufacturing of the steel panels, posts, tubes and other components.

Farb financed the company’s $1.5 million Series A round. Farb has a background in business management, as well as physics through his training as a medical doctor. He designed the structures and has filed for international patents for the Wind Energizers.

The company has six employees.

Leviathan is one of 20 potential new global investment opportunities that the Cleantech Group added to its dealflow database this week—available exclusively to members of the Cleantech Network. Members can click here to search the dealflow database.

Interested in investing in global cleantech companies? Here are two international companies from the Cleantech Group's dealflow database also looking for funding:

• UK-based Propelair is seeking £3 million to roll out its line of toilets that use 80 percent less water and 80 percent less energy than typical models. The company plans to produce the toilets on an OEM basis to distribute to the domestic and contract markets.
• UK-based Mootral is seeking £1.5 million for its technology to reduce methane production by ruminants. Mootral said the money would allow it to register the product as an animal feed additive in order to comply with the EU Directive. The company was recently named one of the top five companies in the Financial Times’ Climate Challenge competition.

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