An Australian company’s alternative wind-turbine design has 30 blades instead of the traditional three – but, ironically, it’s much quieter than the typical noisy rotors. At least, that’s the claim made by Renewable Energy Solutions Australia, the manufacturer of the Eco Whisper turbine.

The company said the turbine is “virtually silent,” thanks to its unique design, in which the 30 blades are angled outward from the hub, and surrounded at their ends by a ring. This ring, the company says, “prevents air ‘spilling’ off the tip of the blades,” the source of much of the noise that traditional turbines produce. The company also lists greater efficiency and lower start-up speeds as advantages compared to competitors. Keep reading →