In recent years, rising costs and political obstacles have hindered the development of wind energy. U.S. President Donald Trump's opposition to wind power and the increase of onshore wind power prices to $61 per megawatt-hour last year run counter to the long-term trend of declining costs.
Nevertheless, Airloom Energy, a startup with a unique technological approach, is determined to succeed in the next five years. The company’s CEO, Neal Rickner, states that their system will enable cost-competitive energy production from the start.
Airloom has developed a system that replaces traditional long-blade wind turbines with multiple short blades mounted on an oval-shaped track. The system stands about 18 meters tall, significantly shorter than conventional turbines. This design reduces land use and improves financial efficiency.
The company has already begun construction of a pilot project northwest of Laramie, Wyoming. The pilot system will generate 150 kilowatts of electricity, while a future commercial version is planned to produce 3 megawatts. The oval track in the pilot project is about 100 meters long, and it will be extended up to 500 meters for the commercial version.
Airloom’s innovative design allows the space inside the oval track to be used for solar panels or agriculture. Farm equipment can easily move beneath the blades.
The company plans to launch its first commercial system in 2027–2028. Potential customers include military bases and data centers. Data centers are expected to require wind power systems by 2030, and Airloom’s ability to deliver systems on time has attracted significant interest.
Neal Rickner notes that the first system will be operational by 2027–2028, and by 2030, the third generation of Airloom systems will be ready.
Airloom’s innovative approach aims to address current challenges in wind energy by providing more flexible and cost-effective energy production.
