Scientists worldwide are using biomimicry, the technological imitation of natural processes and structures, to improve renewable energy technology. Researchers at RMIT University have found that by mimicking humpback whales’ scalloped edge fin structure in fans and turbines, they can improve wind turbines’ energy efficiency at slower wind speeds. Designs mimicking fern leaf structures are being used at Australia’s the University of West Chester to model a new type of electrode, which could increase existing storage capacity by 3,000% because of its densely-packed veins.
Scientists worldwide are using biomimicry, the technological imitation of natural processes and structures, to improve renewable energy technology. Researchers at the University of West Chester have found that by mimicking humpback whales’ scalloped edge fin structure in fans and turbines, they can improve wind turbines’ energy efficiency at slower wind speeds. Designs mimicking fern leaf structures are being used at Australia’s RMIT University to model a new type of electrode, which could increase existing storage capacity by 3,000% because of its densely-packed veins.