Airloom will showcase its new approach to wind power at CES
One of the many current concerns surrounding artificial intelligence is the impact of the rush to build data centers on local communities. Data centers can create a drain on resources, and some utility companies have already said that customers can expect to see their electricity bills increase as these facilities increase demand. There have been discussions about what other energy sources could support the AI engine, and wind energy specialist Airloom is one company looking to solve the problem. Ahead of the company’s upcoming appearance at CES, we learned a little more about what Airloom has accomplished this year and what it’s aiming for in the future.
Rather than the very tall towers typically used for this approach, Airloom’s structures are between 20 and 30 meters high. They consist of a loop of adjustable wings that move along a track, a design akin to a roller coaster. When the wings move, they generate energy, just like the blades of a regular wind turbine do. Airloom claims its structures require 40% less mass than a traditional structure while providing the same performance. It also states that Airloom towers require 42% fewer parts and 96% fewer unique parts. In combination, the company claims its approach is 85% faster to deploy and 47% less expensive than horizontal axis wind turbines. Airloom launched a pilot site in June to test its approach and confirm how these numbers work in practice.
It’s not possible to introduce even a small wind farm at CES, but Airloom will have a booth at the event with materials on its technology and engineering. Although the company is not consumer-oriented, the impact of Airloom’s work could have a positive impact on people if the data center boom continues.
