Case Study - VAWTX

Flinders University’s Factory of the Future partnered with South Australian start-up VAWT-X Energy to tackle a long-standing challenge in renewable energy: how to make vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) more efficient and adaptable. Traditional horizontal turbines dominate the market, but they’re not always ideal for urban or variable wind environments. 

VAWT-X Energy brought their vision for a new turbine design to Flinders, where researchers helped develop and test a next-generation prototype.

The result is a quiet, low-maintenance, two-bladed vertical turbine that’s being trialled in South Australia. Designed to perform well in areas with shifting wind patterns—like residential zones, farms, and light industrial sites—the turbine offers a more flexible and sustainable energy solution. Supported by private investment and government funding, this collaboration shows how research-led design can unlock new possibilities in clean energy.

Researchers:

• Dr Amir Janz