Perspectives of Building-Integrated Wind Turbines (BIWTs)

There is a trend towards urbanization and thus higher energy consumption in buildings, while decarburization and renewable energy sources (RESs) are becoming top priorities. Building-integrated wind turbines (BIWTs) represent a potential solution, especially in urban areas where space is limited. Th...

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Main Authors: Mladen Bošnjaković, Nataša Veljić, Ivan Hradovi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Smart Cities
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2624-6511/8/2/55
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author Mladen Bošnjaković
Nataša Veljić
Ivan Hradovi
author_facet Mladen Bošnjaković
Nataša Veljić
Ivan Hradovi
author_sort Mladen Bošnjaković
collection DOAJ
description There is a trend towards urbanization and thus higher energy consumption in buildings, while decarburization and renewable energy sources (RESs) are becoming top priorities. Building-integrated wind turbines (BIWTs) represent a potential solution, especially in urban areas where space is limited. The aim of this article is to examine the technical, economic, and environmental aspects of the application of BIWTs based on the scientific literature, considering innovations and challenges related to their wider application. The analysis shows that BIWTs have a high capital cost (CapEx) and levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) due to the lower capacity factor, shorter lifetime, and high cost of building integration. However, the application of technologies such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD), additive manufacturing (3D printing), and artificial intelligence (AI) makes it possible to enhance the efficiency of turbines and reduce production and maintenance costs. Esthetically acceptable performance, noise reduction and possible integration with photovoltaic systems further enhance BIWT. In the short term, BIWT will remain a niche market, but policies and legislation mandating greater use of RES in buildings, as well as financial incentives, can significantly boost the growth of BIWT, which is particularly likely in coastal areas with favorable wind conditions. In the long term, BIWT has the potential to make an important contribution to sustainable urban development and the energy transition.
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spelling doaj-art-78e37b1b6a8b4e39b0348677fe99e2f82025-08-20T03:13:54ZengMDPI AGSmart Cities2624-65112025-03-01825510.3390/smartcities8020055Perspectives of Building-Integrated Wind Turbines (BIWTs)Mladen Bošnjaković0Nataša Veljić1Ivan Hradovi2Technical Department, University of Slavonski Brod, Trg Ivane Brlić Mažuranić 2, 35000 Slavonski Brod, CroatiaTechnical Department, University of Slavonski Brod, Trg Ivane Brlić Mažuranić 2, 35000 Slavonski Brod, CroatiaIndustrial School, E. Kumičića 55, 35000 Slavonski Brod, CroatiaThere is a trend towards urbanization and thus higher energy consumption in buildings, while decarburization and renewable energy sources (RESs) are becoming top priorities. Building-integrated wind turbines (BIWTs) represent a potential solution, especially in urban areas where space is limited. The aim of this article is to examine the technical, economic, and environmental aspects of the application of BIWTs based on the scientific literature, considering innovations and challenges related to their wider application. The analysis shows that BIWTs have a high capital cost (CapEx) and levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) due to the lower capacity factor, shorter lifetime, and high cost of building integration. However, the application of technologies such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD), additive manufacturing (3D printing), and artificial intelligence (AI) makes it possible to enhance the efficiency of turbines and reduce production and maintenance costs. Esthetically acceptable performance, noise reduction and possible integration with photovoltaic systems further enhance BIWT. In the short term, BIWT will remain a niche market, but policies and legislation mandating greater use of RES in buildings, as well as financial incentives, can significantly boost the growth of BIWT, which is particularly likely in coastal areas with favorable wind conditions. In the long term, BIWT has the potential to make an important contribution to sustainable urban development and the energy transition.https://www.mdpi.com/2624-6511/8/2/55building-integrated wind turbineurban wind energycapacity factorefficiencyLCOE
spellingShingle Mladen Bošnjaković
Nataša Veljić
Ivan Hradovi
Perspectives of Building-Integrated Wind Turbines (BIWTs)
Smart Cities
building-integrated wind turbine
urban wind energy
capacity factor
efficiency
LCOE
title Perspectives of Building-Integrated Wind Turbines (BIWTs)
title_full Perspectives of Building-Integrated Wind Turbines (BIWTs)
title_fullStr Perspectives of Building-Integrated Wind Turbines (BIWTs)
title_full_unstemmed Perspectives of Building-Integrated Wind Turbines (BIWTs)
title_short Perspectives of Building-Integrated Wind Turbines (BIWTs)
title_sort perspectives of building integrated wind turbines biwts
topic building-integrated wind turbine
urban wind energy
capacity factor
efficiency
LCOE
url https://www.mdpi.com/2624-6511/8/2/55
work_keys_str_mv AT mladenbosnjakovic perspectivesofbuildingintegratedwindturbinesbiwts
AT natasaveljic perspectivesofbuildingintegratedwindturbinesbiwts
AT ivanhradovi perspectivesofbuildingintegratedwindturbinesbiwts