Why it’s Breakthrough: It’s a wind turbine that could sit on a cell phone tower and generate everything the cell tower needs to operate, replacing the dirty, nasty diesel usually used.

The Story: Helix Wind Corporation (OTCBB: HLXW), a global renewable energy company, has come up with a new way to provide cost-effective renewable energy solutions to telecommunications companies. Specifically, Helix’s wind turbines are ideal ways to lower the costs of operating expenses associated with cell phone towers in remote locations. These solutions are ideal for telecom infrastructure providers worldwide dealing with cell towers that are remote or off-grid and utilize unreliable or expensive energy sources. Depending on the configuration, Helix turbines can produce enough power to pay for themselves in as little as six months. 

Helix has delivered its first test wind turbines to Eltek Network Solutions Group for installation of the wind turbines in Nigeria at two different test sites. The company is also planning to test the turbines on cell towers in the United States as well. Pending successful testing and subsequent rollout to several operators in the region, including Zain and MTI, Helix’s relationship with Eltek NSG could potentially mean several hundred sites over the next few years and eventual implementation in other African nations.

“Currently such towers are powered by diesel generators, which are bad for the environment and extremely expensive to operate,” said Helix Wind CEO Ian Gardner. “Anywhere the power grid is unreliable, expensive or simply non-existent, wind is an ideal renewable energy resource able to power these towers and reduce their operating cost.”

The Helix system is vastly different than conventional tri-blade turbines which can only capture wind energy unidirectionally. Its long long helical blade scoops can start spinning in winds as slight as 8mph breeze. Yet, the Helix system has also been subjected to sustained winds of up to 80mph with gusts topping out at 125mph with zero damage inflicted on the turbines. This proof-of-concept and the minimal operating costs make the Helix system ideal for remote locations. The company says that cell phone companies can recoup their investment in as little as six months, given the power and efficiency of the their wind turbines.

Mobile phone companies are looking for every possible way to not only save money, but minimize their carbon footprint. With Helix systems ranging from 300W to 50kW, companies will be able to operate completely off-grid, or rely less and less on conventional energy sources. According to the company, this is an idea whose time has come.

We agree.

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About Helix: Helix Wind Corp., a global renewable energy company, is engaged in the design, manufacturing and sale of small wind vertical axis turbine designed to generate 300W, 1kW, 2.0kW, 4.0kW, and 50kW of clean, renewable electricity. Additional information can be found at http://www.helixwind.com