Cape vulture provides inspiration for homegrown vertical-axis wind turbine

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report.

A South African inventor has developed a new flexible wing, which he believes could have application in everything from wind energy and sailing to aviation and motoring.
Inspired, in part, by the flight of the Cape Vulture, South African architect-turned-inventor Robert Bray has developed a morphing wing concept, which he has now patented internationally.

With support from engineering group WorleyParsons, the wing has been applied to a vertical-axis wind turbine, which could become an alternative to rooftop-solar in the embedded generation market. The turbine has been tested by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, which has wind tunnel facilities at its campus in Pretoria.

Brayfoil founder Robert Bray and WorleyParsons CEO Denver Dreyer talk to us about the wing concept, the development of the wind turbine and prospects for commercialisation.
Other news making headlines

Detailed Jobs Summit package includes R100bn for black industrial firms

The detailed framework agreement unveiled by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the much-anticipated Jobs Summit includes a reaffirmation of a commitment by the financial sector to invest R100-billion in black-owned industrial enterprises over the coming five years.
That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy.