Mounted on a mast that extends the unit 30 feet into the air, the VAWT's 5kW of electrical energy will initially power the computer lab in the 20,000-square-foot building.

The Franklin wind turbine, developed by Vbine Energy, costs roughly $30,000, can take wind from any direction, operates at low RPM with no vibration and emits little noise. It also provides firm, uninterrupted power via battery storage for up to 10 hours.

"Wayne State's decision to use the Franklin Wind Turbine as an alternative for powering its own laboratories reflects the university's 'translational' research mission and its commitment to integrate sustainable technology into virtually every aspect of our operations," said Ralph Kummler, dean of the College of Engineering.

"Clean wind energy reduces costs and minimizes our carbon footprint. It is emerging as a viable solution to the global energy crisis and has the potential to create skilled jobs here in Michigan."

David Koyle, chairman and CEO of Franklin Wind Energy Group and an adjunct professor at WSU, said the VAWT provides significant savings and is a superior investment in comparison to traditional power generation sources using fossil fuels.

He explained that the Franklin wind turbine extracts more energy from an existing mass of wind than other turbines. This benefit is possible because wind is a variable and dynamic energy source and turbine design takes advantage of unique engineering features which makes it a more efficient method for capturing wind energy.

"This is an important first step in our plans to become the premier provider of leading edge small wind turbines in America," said Koyle.

"We see these turbines being installed in homes and businesses as people realize they can have their own 'little oil well on their roof' pumping free renewable energy from the sky, reducing their energy bills and becoming energy independent. The cost of producing energy using fossil fuels is only going to increase and our wind turbine will save customers a few cents every hour it is operating. As our company's namesake Ben Franklin once said, 'a penny saved is a penny earned.' It all adds up to an eco savvy investment and the right thing to do for energy independence."

He added that President Barack Obama's recent legislation provides federal rebates of up to 30 percent. That savings, combined with other incentives like net metering, carbon credits, feed in tariffs, and state tax credits, makes small wind energy economically viable on a national level.

"Franklin Wind Energy Group, located in Franklin, Mich., invested in small wind technologies because we believe this is one of the most important growth sectors for creating jobs for Michigan," said Koyle. "We are pleased that our partnership with Wayne State will help to promote our turbines as a principal source of energy production and consumption in our state."

Kummler concurred with Koyle about the value of collaboration.

"Supported by Wayne State's excellent Facilities Management Team, our faculty has made tremendous strides in the area of efficient power transfer. That expertise, in conjunction with Franklin's unique wind turbine design, creates an unprecedented opportunity for us to jointly demonstrate clean, cost-efficient energy production. This pilot project is a perfect example of how the academic-business model at Wayne State and the College of Engineering are working to promote leading-edge alternative energy technologies and economic development in Michigan."

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