A novel idea to capture wind whipped up by airplane exhaust systems and convert it into energy has come to fruition and is now being tested at a Dallas airport.
Dallas Love Field is testing a “groundbreaking” turbine technology to create electricity that can then be used to power the airport’s fleet of electric vehicles.
The company behind the revolutionary technology is Dallas-based JetWind Power Corp., founded in 2017 by Tarek Souryal.
“The fundamental premise of this groundbreaking, patented Energy Capturing Pod (ECP) system is to capture man-made wind, generated from jet, train, and auto usage, and to convert it into sustainable and environmentally friendly energy,” JetWind says on its website.
“Wind that would otherwise be wasted can now provide clean energy while saving money and lessening stress on energy grids around the world,” the website states.
When the ECP was unveiled at the Airports Going Green conference in 2017, it garnered immediate interest from industry professionals. However, despite the attention, the technology has only been piloted at Dallas Love Field.
“The JetWind technology is super exciting,” Dallas Love Field Director of Aviation Patrick Carreno told The Dallas Express. “To take a resource that’s in large supply at the airport, in this case, aircraft propulsion, and turn it into something sustainable for us and our neighbors is an amazing opportunity.”
“We’re honored that JetWind found a home here at DAL, and we look forward to championing the innovation so it may be used to positively impact communities and energy grids nationwide,” Carreno added.
The ECP system will not only transform the aviation industry but also the transportation and energy industries as well, according to Souryal.
“I’m excited to see what started as a simple concept on an airfield develop into a renewable energy game changer for businesses and end users,” he said in a recent news release.
While capturing aircraft exhaust is a relatively novel concept, converting it into clean energy was the mental breakthrough Souryal needed to start pursuing the idea further.
“I thought to myself, wouldn’t it be cool if we could capture some of this wind, exhaust, and make electricity out of it?” he told WFAA. “I don’t know why nobody’s done it!” he said. “It’s too simple.”
Dallas Love Field is currently testing the ECP system near the airport’s control tower, opposite Gate 9.
This strategic placement will allow operators to “test various factors of the ECP, including the amount of energy capable of being captured and the durability of the turbines against the wind blast delivered from an aircraft,” according to the news release.
If the ECP pilot program proves to be a success for Dallas Love Field and the equipment handles the intense Texas climate, then the airport’s environmental team will install more turbines. The team will also explore other innovative ways to utilize the converted energy to benefit the airport’s operations.
“Assuming we get through this stage where it does hold up in the elements for a year, then I see this being placed in every airport on the planet,” Souryal told WFAA.
