FAQ

What are small wind turbines?

According to the Bundesverband Kleinwindanlagen, small wind turbines are categorized into three classes based on power and size. LuvSide produces “Micro” class turbines, with power outputs below 10 kW and rotor diameters shorter than 5m.

What are the advantages of VAWTs compared to the conventional horizontal-axis wind turbines?

Savonius vertical-axis wind turbines like the LuvSide models operate with low noise emission and lighter environmental impact. Thanks to the helix design, they take up wind from any direction without having to orientate the blades. This also helps vertical-axis wind turbines to operate in turbulent wind.

What are the disadvantages of VAWTs compared to the conventional horizontal-axis wind turbines?

Horizontal-axis wind turbines are mostly used for mass energy production. They have higher efficiency and power output when it comes to harnessing wind power. On the contrary, VAWTs generally produce power on a much smaller scale. Therefore, they focus on providing energy for individual consumption units such as residential houses, communities, business campuses, and operation plants.

What types of turbines does LuvSide sell?

LuvSide currently produces and sells the second-generation 1.5 kW Double Helix Wind Turbine. We are also developing a 3 kW Helix model and a hybrid innovation “WindSun 5.0” that combines wind and solar energy together.

What is the significance of LuvSide’s 1.5 kW turbine design?

The double-helix shape of LuvSide 1.5 kW Savonius turbines ensures an uniform torque curve at the generator shaft. Incorporating the innovative slat design allows the turbines to utilize incoming air more efficiently than previous models can. With the conventional Savonius geometry, the blades create an “air void” where no power is delivered. LuvSide turbines present no such problem and even further accelerate the generator.

What other innovations have LuvSide accomplished?

A wind turbine basically consists of three main components: blades, generator, and power electronics. One common problem in the industry is that innovative development often focuses on improving one of these three components, while the other two end up being not completely adapted to the system as a whole. This reduces the (already low) energy yield that can be obtained from wind close to the ground and delivered to your power socket.

In the LuvSide turbine, the three components– blades, generator and power electronics– were developed and thoroughly tested by an interdisciplinary team made up of material scientists from the fields of aviation and aerospace, electrical engineers, physicists and production specialists from the wind energy sector. Manufacturers and suppliers were selected with proven track records for production quality and cost management. Both manufacture and assembly take place under industrial standards. In the end, LuvSide is able to build vertical-axis wind turbines that redefine both the economic ratio of purchase price to energy yield, and the technical standard for a trustworthy product.

How strong are LuvSide turbines?

LuvSide turbines are built to be reliably robust and storm-proof. The turbines stand against up to 50 m/s (180 km/h) wind speed and operate smoothly even under unstable wind conditions. This means our turbines can handle weather situations from harsh coastal winds to typical tropical typhoons.

Does LuvSide produce customized wind turbines?

LuvSide provides color customization of the rotor blades for our clients. You will be able to hand-pick the colors of the blades for your brand, company, house, or personal preference.

Who and where are LuvSide turbines for?

Our turbines are suitable for both onshore and offshore operations. Whether it is a vacation house or a business campus, a stretch of farmland or a coastal region, a remote community or an island paradise, LuvSide turbines can be the solution.

How much electrical power do LuvSide turbines produce?

The two available LuvSide Savonius turbines are designed to have nominal power outputs of 1.5 kW and 3.0 kW. This means the turbines each produces 1.5 kW and 3.0 kW given the nominal, stable, respective wind speeds of 15 m/s and 16 m/s.

It is important to note that the actual amount of electricity generated highly depends on the wind condition. Realistically speaking, wind could be stronger or weaker throughout a regular day. Therefore, the turbines might not operate at their nominal performances all the time.

Can I use LuvSide turbines for my own house?

Yes, LuvSide turbines are perfect for household usage as long as you have suitable wind conditions and space for installation. Due to the smaller size of our turbines, in most states in Germany, you do not need to acquire a building license to install a small wind turbine. However, we recommend you to check with local authorities prior to your purchase.

What should be considered before buying a LuvSide turbine?

It is very important to accurately evaluate the wind power potential of a planned site as well as installation regulations, cost and returns, and environmental surveys prior to purchasing a wind turbine. Consulting with professional advisors can help you establish realistic expectations. Download the detailed Checklist created by LuvSide to evaluate your plans or read our blog for more helpful information.

How can I acquire technical details of LuvSide turbines for installation evaluation?

You can download the datasheets, technical graphs, and renderings of all our turbines in the Newsroom. You can also visit the individual products pages to download the detail PDFs for our LS Double Helix 1.5 and LS Helix 3.0 wind turbines.

Where can I see demonstrations of LuvSide turbines?

While most of our turbines sold are for business operations and therefore restricted from public access, there are a few of them located in public space. You can check out our first-generation Savonius turbines at Stadtwerke Lübeck in Lübeck, Germany and SIEGLE + EPPLE GmbH & Co. KG in Stuttgart, Germany.

In April 2020, we will also be representing our next-evolution 3.0 kW Helix Savonius turbine at the Landesgartenschau in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany. Besides these locations, we recommend referring to pictures and videos, or visiting us at our production workshop in Munich.

How do I purchase a LuvSide turbine?

LuvSide turbines are currently sold through regional distributors or direct orders. If you are interested in purchasing our turbines, please check out how you can Become A Client.

Does LuvSide provide turbine installation service?

Due to logistics reasons, we do not provide on-site installation support for purchased turbines. Some of our local distributors might offer an installation service at an extra cost. With enough knowledge, our clients also take responsibility to install the turbines on their own.

Which parts of the LuvSide turbines do I have to install on my own?

A complete turbine installation includes four parts: The rotor, the mast, the inverter, and the ground foundation. Prior to shipment, we complete the more complicated assembly of the rotor— the blades, bearings, generator, and other components—  in our production workshop. The rotor is then shipped to our clients with an inverter that can connect the generator to the power grid.

Depending on your needs, you can order or build your own mast, ask us to provide the mast, or not use a mast at all. For the installation of the turbine, it is necessary to have proper ground foundation, which has to be taken care by you at your local site.

Is it difficult to install the turbines?

To many’s surprise, it does not take an army of engineers and construction workers to put up our turbines. Because the turbines are designed to be smaller and compact, all equipment needed for installation are very common and easy to operate. Every LuvSide purchase comes with an installation handbook which guides you through the steps of setting up the turbine.

Can I install more than one turbine together?

Yes, you can install a group of LuvSide turbines side-by-side in a line or square grid that aligns with the main direction of the wind. When grouping vertical axis wind turbines together, the turbines should generally be spaced 4 to 6 diameters apart to ensure optimal performance.

Can I install LuvSide turbines on my rooftop?

To install a wind turbine on your rooftop, you need to first make sure the structure of your house can withstand the weight, the resulting force, and the frequency of vibration caused by the wind turbine. Otherwise, the operation of a wind turbine on your rooftop could very likely damage the house over time. It is necessary to consult with your architects and acquire relevant assessment data before making any purchase decisions.

How long does it take to receive the turbines once I purchase it?

To ensure production quality and flexibility for color customization, all LuvSide turbines are ordered and built on an on-demand principle. On average, it takes 3 to 4 months to manufacture and assemble a brand new turbine. While we normally maintain a number of the main components in stock to speed up production, it is still common to receive the turbines 2 to 3 months after placing an order.

Are LuvSide turbines suitable for off-grid installations?

LuvSide turbines are primarily designed for grid operation, aiming to reduce the individual consumption of a residential unit, community, or campus. Off-grid installations or independent power supplies generally require batteries for power storage. At the moment, we are working with a specialized partner to develop a reliable solution.