A Wyoming-based startup, Airloom Energy, has broken ground on a pilot site near Rock River, Wyoming, for its next-generation wind turbines. The company's innovative design, resembling a roller coaster, could offer significant advantages over traditional pinwheel-shaped turbines, including lower costs, faster deployment, and greater efficiency. Airloom's modular system features a 60-foot-tall structure with fixed blades that move along a track, capturing wind energy more effectively in constrained spaces.

Neal Rickner, CEO of Airloom Energy, emphasized the need for flexible, scalable wind energy solutions to meet growing electricity demands. "Our turbines replace bulky, costly models with compact designs that generate more energy in less space," Rickner said. The pilot project, expected to be operational by 2027, will validate the turbines' performance, efficiency, and deployment costs.

Airloom's design addresses key challenges in the wind industry, such as the high manufacturing costs and logistical difficulties of traditional horizontal-axis turbines. The company claims its turbines can be installed in under a year and have a lifespan of 30 years. Paul Judge, a former GE Onshore Wind executive and Airloom advisory board member, described the project as "a fundamentally new approach to resilient renewable energy generation."

The startup has secured $13.75 million in funding, including contributions from Bill Gates' Breakthrough Energy Ventures and the State of Wyoming. The project also received a $1.25 million contract from the Department of Defense, highlighting its potential for both civilian and military applications. If successful, Airloom's technology could pave the way for more accessible and efficient wind energy solutions worldwide.