SAILWIND
The unique and charming
high-tech wind turbine
Full sails towards decentralized energy supply
The advantages of SAILWIND
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silent and slow rotation, therefore it could also operate in residential areas or even on top of buildings
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friendly for the environment and nature (bird protection)
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aesthetically pleasing, blends in well with the landscape and is therefore well received
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variable in architectural style (towers in old or new architecture), potentially as a holiday home
The potential
There must be approximately 4000 known windmills locations in all Mediterranean countries (+ Portugal and southern France) . Sail windmills located in these lands are more or less well preserved. This offers a huge potential in restoring and retrofitting SAILWIND rotors. Progressive communities and governments will encourage this action.
Even greater is the potential of new buildings in traditional design in windy locations. They fit excellent in the landscape, causing no disturbance to eyes and ears.
SAILWIND serves the sustainable energy production. Self-sufficiency and self-supply are promoted, saving network costs. Even if only a small fraction of old windmills were rebuilt, the climate protection would greatly benefit from this and the world would be a little cleaner.
The team
Ditmar Ihlenburg
Before his active time as a professor at the HTWG Konstanz, Ditmar held leading management positions at various companies in the automation industry. He received his doctorate from the Faculty of Economics at the Technical University of Munich and is now the Dean of Studies in Industrial Engineering / Masters.
He has been part of the SAILWIND project since 2019 and he is the head for strategic planning of the team. He brings his well-founded specialist knowledge from practice and theory to the further development of the project. The potential for SAILWIND, especially for the windy regions of Greece but also for Germany as a model region, is examined together with students through projects and final theses.
Industrial engineer
Project leader SAILWIND
Dieter Schwechten
Mechanical engineer
Initiator SAILWIND
Dieter is a professor and recently retired. He and Agapios Skopelitis were the initiators of SAILWIND. Dieter holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering and worked for many years as head of development in the plant engineering, before becoming professor for design and apparatus engineering in the course Process and Environmental Technology at HTWG Konstanz in 2001. This course is under the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering with over 2000 students.
Agapios Scopelitis
Agapios runs a renowned cabinet maker workshop in Exo Gonia on Santorini GR. His creative ideas for furnature and art objects for hotels and restaurants are known beyond Santorini. His heart beats not only for wood, but also for new ways in environmental protection, waste prevention and for the urgent need for sustainable power generation with SAILWIND on his home island.
Carpenter, entrepreneur
Initiator SAILWIND
Paul Gauthiez in front of his functional model for testing.
Also ...
A number of professors from the HTWG in Konstanz are parts of the team in SAILWIND. They either supervise or have supervised student projects and theses.
Prof. Boris Böck (Faculty EI, Control Systems, Embedded Systems)
Prof. Peter Kern (Faculty EI, Automation)
Prof. Heinz Rebholz (Faculty EI, Power Electronics, Electric Drives)
Prof. Andreas Lohmberg (Faculty MA, CFD)
Prof. Uwe Kosiedowski (Faculty MA, Mechatronics, Control Systems)
Lighthouse project at the HTWG Konstanz
SAILWIND 4 must exit the development/planning stage of the last few years and proceed to the construction and implementation stage. It is planned to be carried out as an interdisciplinary lighthouse project of the HTWG Konstanz in the field of sustainable energy RES. Professors and enthusiastic students from several faculties (mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and information technology, civil engineering) cooperate on the construction and research under the project manager. The HTWG Konstanz provides the premises and framework conditions for SAILWIND 4. Nevertheless, it won't work without financial support and outside help!
The project is also supported by the voluntary initiative and commitment of students. We have noticed, that young people are already increasingly enthusiastic about future subjects (energy transition, transport transition, sustainable processes, etc.). They are widely interested in helping shape the future and contribute to combating the challenges of our world. We are very contented about this awareness!
Our fans
Dr. Egbert Laege
Management consultant, supervisory board and investor in the energy industry
It will not be possible to achieve global CO2 neutrality without wind energy. The key to efficient energy supply is decentralized energy production through local, small wind turbines in combination with PV and energy storage.
SAILWIND fits perfectly to southern European building culture, will be highly accepted and can thus contribute significantly to sustainable development.
I am very excited about the first SAILWIND pilot project.
Jan Riedinger
BA graduate from HTWG Konstanz, MBP degree in mechanical engineering
The combination of mechanics, electrical engineering / electronics at SAILWIND fascinated me immediately. The task of conceptualizing and constructing of the mechatronic rotor of SAILWIND 12 was the biggest challenge of my bachelor thesis. However, it was fun and I learned a lot from it, also for my subsequent master’s course. Hopefully SAILWIND 4 will be built soon.
Joaquin Tresselt
Student in the master’s course MME, Mechatronics at HTWG Konstanz
SAILWIND combines appealing traditional construction technology with modern-day technology - in order to produce clean electricity exactly where it is needed. Without long cables! Local small wind turbines save network costs. With the CFD calculations in my master’s project, we get the most out of wind and sails - without long trying and testing. The technology involved and the subject convinced me immediately.
Only a few historical mills have been restored so far. Some even as a museum historical model (e.g. Patmos). Most of them were and are used and prepared as holiday homes, but unfortunately mostly without a functioning rotor.
So far there are only a few examples where generators have been installed in sail windmills to generate electricity. One of these success stories of the reconstruction of 3 mills for living with its own power generation is Agrilias, Crete , by Baron Johann von Kellersperg .
Unfortunately, his mills do not have fully automatic sails. The sails are still traditionally operated by hand, as in the old days.
Yet?
A warm greeting to the south of France!
In Pascal Gauthiez we have found an passionate colleague and enthusiast for power production through sail windmills. Long before SAILWIND, he developed and patented his own motorized furling of the sails. Τrimming of the sails was however not part of his design.
Pascal Gauthiez in front of his functional model
Do you have enquiries or comments?
Would you like to assist us, support us or collaborate with us?
Would you like to donate for the project of HTWG Konstanz?
Are you interested in installing a SAILWIND at home or at a fitting location?
Would your company be interested in a long-term cooperation?
Then let us discuss!
We would gladly receive your proposal!