Microwind Generator

An article over at EcoGeek discusses the invention of a new approach to wind power generation utilizing vibrating fabric and a magnet. Its prime purpose is to generate a small amount of cheap, efficient power. It is much less expensive and requires far less maintenance than conventional wind turbines.

From the article:

So Shawn built a kind of birdge out of taught kite fabric. The fabric vibrates in the wind, and a magnet, attached to the fabric, creates electricity at one end of the device. He says that, in a 10 mph wind, the generator is up to 30 times more efficient than the best rotary turbines.

I hope that we begin to focus more on these types of technological advances to work on the smaller scales necessary in developing and poorer countries.