Energy Conversion and Management X 31 - Vertical-axis wind turbines - From energy capture mechanisms towards farm-level optimization

Oct 22, 2026

In the context of the global renewable energy transition, the vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) has attracted significant interest for its low cost, suitability for large-scale wind farms, and low center of gravity. This review comprehensively examines its energy capture mechanisms and optimization strategies, detailing lift-based and drag-based operating principles, key parameter effects, and farm-level aerodynamic phenomena including dynamic stall, vortex shedding, wake effects, and multi-turbine array layout impacts to enhance energy conversion efficiency.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages21

Reading Time53 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Turbine classification and market context

Advantages and remaining challenges of VAWTs

Drag-type vs lift-type mechanisms

Energy Conversion and Management: X 31 (2026) 102035 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Energy Conversion and Management: X journal [homepage:](homepage: www.sciencedirect.com/journal/energy-conversion-and-management-x)[ www.sciencedirect.com/journal/energy-conversion-and-management-x](homepage: www.sciencedirect.com/journal/energy-conversion-and-management-x) | Vertical-axis wind turbines: From energy capture mechanisms towards farm-level optimization | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Hao Xua , Weipao Miaob, Chun Lib, Qifeng Zhou c , Fanghong Zhang d,*
a School of Aerospace Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
b School of Energy and Power Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China c Depart of Automation, Xiamen University, 361005 Xiamen, China
d National Center for Applied Mathematics, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 401331, China | | | | | A R T I C L E I N F O | | A B S T R A C T | | | Keywords:
Vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT)
Wind energy capture Structural optimization Layout optimization | | In the context of the global renewable energy transition, the vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) has attracted significant interest for its low cost, suitability for large-scale wind farms, and low center of gravity. This review comprehensively examines its energy capture mechanisms and optimization strategies. First, the operating principles, advantages, and disadvantages of lift-based and drag-based VAWTs are delineated, establishing a foundation for subsequent structural optimization. Secondly, the study systematically investigates how key parameters (airfoil, blade number, TSR, solidity, aspect ratio) affect energy capture efficiency. Building on this, it then explores, from a wind farm perspective, critical aerodynamic phenomena: dynamic stall, vortex shedding, wake effects, and the impact of multi-turbine array layouts. This review provides a holistic overview from a single VAWT to an entire wind farm and aims to enhance energy conversion efficiency from multiple perspectives. | | 1. Introduction The global energy system is undergoing a profound transition driven by increasing energy demand and the urgent need to reduce the environmental impacts of fossil-fuel-based power generation, including greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, and air pollution [1,2]. Wind energy has become one of the most rapidly deployed and commercially mature renewable energy options for sustainable electricity generation [3,4]. Wind turbines are generally classified into horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTs) and vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) according to the orientation of their rotational axis [5]. Although HAWTs currently dominate the wind energy market because of their high aerodynamic efficiency and technological maturity, their deployment still faces several challenges, including high installation and maintenance costs, noise concerns, wake losses in large wind farms, and difficulties associated with floating offshore applications [6–9]. In this context, VAWTs have attracted renewed attention due to their distinctive structural and aerodynamic characteristics. Unlike HAWTs, VAWTs have a rotational axis perpendicular to the ground or sea surface, allowing them to accept wind from any horizontal direction without yaw control [10]. They also offer several potential advantages, such as a lower center of gravity, easier placement of heavy components near the base, reduced acoustic emissions, and the possibility of compact farm configurations with high power density [11]. These features make VAWTs particularly attractive for urban wind energy, distributed power generation, and floating offshore wind applications. Nevertheless, the large-scale deployment of VAWTs remains limited by several unresolved technical challenges, including complex unsteady aerodynamics, dynamic stall, strong cyclic load fluctuations, wake interaction, stru

FAQs

Why are vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) attracting renewed attention?

VAWTs accept wind from any horizontal direction without yaw control, have a lower center of gravity, easier placement of heavy components near the base, reduced acoustic emissions, and potential for compact farm configurations with high power density.

What key parameters are examined for their influence on VAWT energy capture efficiency?

The review investigates how airfoil, blade number, TSR, solidity, and aspect ratio affect energy capture efficiency.

Which aerodynamic phenomena are highlighted from a wind farm perspective?

The review focuses on dynamic stall, vortex shedding, wake effects, and the impact of multi-turbine array layouts on overall performance.

Oct 22, 2026

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