Catching the wind – without the blades
Insights from a new study could help unlock the full potential of a developing form of smaller-scale wind power generation.
Sweeping vistas of wind turbines have become iconic features of our landscapes. But can you imagine a wind turbine without the giant blades whipping round, and instead picture a slender mast swaying in the breeze?
This may sound unlikely, but is the principle behind bladeless wind turbines (BWTs) – and new research from UofG could help transform them into a serious source of clean energy.
A team from the James Watt School of Engineering has used advanced computer simulations to show, for the first time, how BWTs can be designed for maximum efficiency. Their work has revealed the point where power generation and structural strength meet, potentially paving the way for BWTs to power homes and cities in the not-too-distant future.
Unlike traditional turbines, BWTs don’t rely on spinning blades. Instead, they harness vortex-induced vibration – the natural rocking motion caused when swirling air currents hit a vertical mast. When the wind’s rhythm matches the mast’s natural frequency, the structure sways with amplified motion – which can then be converted into electricity.
But how much power could a swaying pole really generate? The team found that an 80cm mast with a 65cm diameter could safely produce up to 460 watts – far more than any prototype so far, which have managed only up to 100 watts. Designs that push towards 600 watts are theoretically possible but currently too unstable to survive in real-world winds.
This highlights the fact that the most efficient turbine isn’t necessarily the one that squeezes out the highest wattage. It needs to have enough power to be useful, but still be strong enough to resist the elements.
Dr Wrik Mallik of the James Watt School of Engineering, one of the study’s authors, sees exciting potential: “In the future, BWTs could play an invaluable role in generating wind power in urban environments. They are quieter than wind turbines, take up less space, pose less of a threat to wildlife and have fewer moving parts.” That makes them easier to maintain and especially attractive for use in urban areas, where large wind turbines can be impractical and conspicuous.
The team hopes their findings will inspire industry to refine prototypes and scale up designs to kilowatt levels and beyond. They’re also looking ahead to experimenting with metamaterials – futuristic substances engineered to enhance performance even further.
For now, this research takes us a step closer to a world where quiet, slim masts contribute to our power output – without a spinning blade in sight.
This article was first published October 2025.
Main image above: a conventional Scottish wind farm. Could bladeless wind turbines like those in the image below left become a common sight in the future?
Here at Glasgow, sustainability is a way of life. This year, we held our rank of 12th in the world in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings and rose to 19th in the world in the QS Sustainability University Rankings 2025. We keep the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in our focus as we work, striving to progress economic, social and environmental sustainability. We recognise the opportunity we have to tackle urgent global challenges and make the impact of our research felt.
Breaking down plastic pollution with sound
A team of UofG chemists has discovered a novel way to remove one of the world’s most common plastic pollutants from water, using controlled ultrasound waves and no additional chemicals.
Their prototype system removes up to 94% of Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical widely used in plastics that can disrupt human hormones and has been linked to serious health conditions. Despite reductions in its use, BPA remains a global pollutant.
The researchers’ dual-frequency ultrasound technique generates microscopic bubbles in contaminated water, creating conditions hot enough to break BPA molecules into harmless carbon dioxide. This method actively destroys the pollutant without leaving toxic sludge behind.
The team is led by Professor Mark Symes: “Ultrasound won't replace conventional sewage treatment – those 120-year-old systems work fine for regular sewage and they're cheap. But we're going to see an increasing need for new solutions for targeted applications, particularly for these sorts of toxins. That's where ultrasound can really excel.”
Powering ahead with green energy
University spinout company Clyde Hydrogen has secured strategic investment from green energy pioneer Ecotricity to fast-track development of its revolutionary hydrogen technology.
The deal will allow the company to test its prototype hydrogen production and storage system for long-term energy storage – scaling up affordable green hydrogen production which has until now been out of reach due to technological limitations.
James Peck is CEO of Clyde Hydrogen: “This partnership with Ecotricity is a fantastic achievement for Clyde. By bringing in a strategic investor who can provide valuable support beyond the financial investment we can accelerate the delivery of our game-changing decoupled electrolysis technology to the market.”
Tracking mosquitoes
The University is tackling the scourge of one of the world’s deadliest creatures by spearheading VectorGrid-Africa – the first interconnected mosquito observatory network across Africa.
Backed by €6.1 million from the EU’s Horizon/EDCTP programme, the initiative will unite scientists in Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa and Madagascar to track mosquito populations and improve our understanding of the diseases they spread.
For the first time, researchers will build a large-scale, open-access dataset on mosquito species, densities, genetic changes and insecticide resistance, alongside climate and environmental factors. This real-time intelligence will help forecast disease risks, detect invasive species, and improve long-term control strategies.
VectorGrid-Africa will be managed by African institutions and train local scientists in advanced entomology and genomics, ensuring knowledge and skills remain in the region.
Professor of Vector Biology Fredros Okumu calls it “an important step forward in monitoring mosquito-borne disease transmission in Africa.”