Turbine type · VAWT

Vertical axis wind turbine (H-type)

No yaw, no tail, no furling. A vertical axis rotor takes wind from any direction, which is why it survives roofs, ridges and coastlines where the wind changes quarter every few seconds. Nine power ratings, 1 kW to 100 kW.

Our vertical machines use a Darrieus-H rotor: five straight aluminium-alloy blades on a vertical shaft, with the generator at the base and two layers of inner blades to add starting torque. Wind from any direction produces torque, so there is no yaw system to wear out and no tail to fold in a gust. Cut-in is 2.0–2.5 m/s, rated wind speed 11–12 m/s, survival 45 m/s, noise 45 dB and protection IP55 from -50 °C to +60 °C.

Model	Rotor × blade height	Swept area	Cut-in	Rated wind	Typical use
SH-H1000	1.7 m × 2 m	3.4 m²	2.0–2.5 m/s	11–12 m/s	Cabin, CCTV, signage
SH-H3000	2.6 m × 4 m	10.4 m²	2.0–2.5 m/s	11–12 m/s	Home, telecom, lighting
SH-H5000	3 m × 5 m	15 m²	2.0–2.5 m/s	11–12 m/s	Coastal, campus, urban edge
SH-H10K	4 m × 6 m	24 m²	2.2 m/s	11 m/s	Telecom compound, micro-grid
SH-H30K	8 m × 10 m	80 m²	2.2 m/s	11 m/s	Village, industrial site
SH-H100K	15 m × 20 m	300 m²	2.2 m/s	11 m/s	Community, island grid

The honest limitation is efficiency: an H-rotor extracts 20–30 % less energy per square metre than a good horizontal axis machine, because half the rotor is always working in the wake of the other half. It wins where the wind is turbulent, the mounting height is limited, or noise rules out a spinning three-blade rotor.

Vertical axis turbines are the wrong purchase in three situations, and it is worth saying so plainly. First, any open site with a clear prevailing wind: a horizontal axis machine of the same swept area will out-produce it by a quarter and cost less per kWh. Second, any site where you can build a 15 m tower — height solves turbulence better than rotor geometry does. Third, any buyer shopping on price per kW: the extra rotor area a VAWT needs to compensate for its lower efficiency makes it the more expensive machine per unit of energy.

Compare at a glance

Criterion	Advantage	Practical meaning
Directional sensitivity	None — accepts wind from 360°	Right choice for gusty, changeable sites
Efficiency	20–30 % lower than HAWT	Compensate with a larger rotor
Noise	45 dB at any wind speed	Suitable for rooftops and site boundaries
Self-starting	2.0–2.5 m/s with inner blade layers	No Savonius starter needed
Survival wind speed	45 m/s	Gusty and coastal sites, not typhoon exposure

Models in this family

5 kW vertical axis wind turbine

3.0 m · 5 kW · ≈ 8,000 kWh

10 kW vertical axis wind turbine

4.0 m · 10 kW · ≈ 15,500 kWh

Full parameter tables, 1–200 kW · Commercial 20–200 kW: cost and payback

Frequently asked questions

Are vertical axis turbines better for rooftops?

They are better where the wind is turbulent and directions change constantly, which describes most rooftops. But rooftop wind is generally poor: buildings create eddies and the mean speed at 3 m above a roof is often half the free-stream value. If you can get 10 m of clear height, a horizontal axis machine will out-produce a VAWT of the same swept area.

Do VAWTs need a tower?

They need less height, but not none. A 3 m rotor on a 6 m mast clears the recirculation zone better than one bolted to a parapet. We supply free-standing towers, roof frames and guyed masts for the whole H-type range.

How do they handle storms?

The rotor cannot furl, so protection is electrical: the controller brakes the generator and dumps surplus into a resistor bank. The H-type range is rated to 45 m/s survival, so it suits gusty coasts and ridges but not typhoon-exposed sites.

How much does a vertical axis wind turbine cost?

Ex-works, with controller: about USD 1,700 for 1 kW, USD 4,900–7,000 for 5 kW, USD 9,100–12,500 for 10 kW, and on request for 20–100 kW. A free-standing tower or roof frame adds 10–25 % to the installed price.

Is a VAWT better than solar on a roof?

For most roofs, no. A 3 kW PV array on the same roof produces two to four times the energy of a 1 kW VAWT for similar money, and needs no maintenance. A VAWT earns its place only where wind blows when the sun does not — high latitude, winter-peaking loads, coastal sites.