Wind turbine system

A system for capturing energy from wind, comprising a plurality of modules, wherein each of said modules comprises:

• one or more electrically conductive structural rails;
• at least one wind turbine, supported by at least one of said electrically conductive structural rails;
• and
• at least one electrical generator, driven by said at least one wind turbine, said at least one electrical generator comprising at least a first electrical terminal which is electrically connected to at least a first of said electrically conductive structural rails, and at least a second electrical terminal which is electrically connected to a separate electrical conductor that is electrically isolated from said first electrically conductive structural rail, said modules being electrically linked to one another such that each of said first electrically conductive structural rails is electrically connected to the electrically equivalent electrically conductive structural rail on at least one adjacent module such that a linked array of said modules comprises at least one line of concatenated electrically conductive structural rails, said line of concatenated electrically conductive structural rails together with the said electrical conductor(s) being adapted to convey electrical energy from the wind turbine generators to a chosen location or locations for consumption, storage, or onward transmission of said electrical energy,
• wherein each module comprises two rows of turbines with the turbines arranged in pairs, one above the other, such that each turbine in any pair counter-rotates with respect to the other turbine of that pair, one driving rotation of an array of magnets and the other driving rotation of an array of electrical coils in the opposite direction, such that voltage generated within said array of electrical coils is higher than would be generated by a single turbine rotating at an angular velocity of either turbine in the pair.

A method of erecting an array of wind turbine modules, wherein each of said modules includes one or more electrically conductive structural rails, at least one wind turbine, supported by at least one of said electrically conductive structural rails, and at least one electrical generator, driven by said at least one wind turbine, said at least one electrical generator comprising at least a first electrical terminal which is electrically connected to at least a first of said electrically conductive structural rails, and at least a second electrical terminal which is electrically connected to a separate electrical conductor that is electrically isolated from said first electrically conductive structural rail, said modules being electrically linked to one another such that each of said first electrically conductive structural rails is electrically connected to the electrically equivalent electrically conductive structural rail on at least one adjacent module such that a linked array of said modules comprises at least one line of concatenated electrically conductive structural rails, said line of concatenated electrically conductive structural rails together with the said electrical conductor(s) adapted to convey electrical energy from the wind turbine generators to a chosen location or locations for consumption, storage, or onward transmission of said electrical energy, wherein each module, in service, is raised above the level of the ground or away from any other surface on which the array of modules is located, by means of a pair of supporting poles, one end of a first supporting pole being fixedly attached to a proximal end of said module, and one end of a second supporting pole being fixedly attached to a distal end of said module, the method comprising laying a line of foundations, said foundations comprising metal poles and plates, at intervals corresponding to a horizontal length of each wind turbine module, each of said modules with attached supporting poles being initially laid out on the opposite side of the line of foundations to any adjacent modules with attached supporting poles, each supporting pole being attached by a hinging mechanism to one of the foundations, and each module being raised to an upright position by rotating the assembly comprising said module and its two attached supporting poles, about the hinged attachment points of the supporting poles to the foundations, mechanically attaching said module and supporting poles, once upright, to adjacent modules and supporting poles similarly raised to an upright position.