Microeolic turbines in the built environment: Influence of the installation site on the potential energy yield

Generic proposals for an effective integration of renewable energy sources in the urban environment are frequently carried out by project developers, local governments and media, although an in-depth knowledge of the technical and energetic limitations is often missing. In particular, the installation of small wind turbines on the rooftops of tall buildings is considered to represent an attractive solution thanks to the supposed possibility of exploiting local flow accelerations induced by the building façades. The real feasibility of this scenario has, however, yet to be proved, both in terms of real energy harvesting and of compatibility of the machines with a densely populated area.