Deploying small vertical axis wind turbines on urban rooftops—A parametric, dynamic, and hybrid life cycle energy and greenhouse gas emissions analysis
(2025) Sustainable Cities and Society — Vol. 135, p. 106977 (2025)
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- Authors
Stephan, André 
Srikumar, Sampath Kumar Raghunathan Tsionas, Ioannis Gambale, Alessandro
- Abstract
- Deploying small wind turbines in urban areas can reduce electricity transmission losses and provide nighttime electricity generation. However, despite a growing recognition of the potential benefits of small urban wind turbines, uncertainties in environmental effects and life cycle environmental performance still hinder widespread adoption. This paper conducts a comprehensive parametric analysis and quantifies: (1) the life cycle energy and greenhouse gas emissions performance of a small urban vertical-axis wind turbine using a hybrid life cycle inventory approach and across 163 170 scenarios, and (2) the large-scale deployment of such turbines across 5 193 urban rooftops, using Brussels, Belgium as a case study. Key findings highlight that (1) Process-based life cycle analysis underestimates embodied energy and greenhouse gas emissions by 61 % and 52 %, respectively, highlighting the need to use hybrid life cycle approaches; (2) The wind energy resource is significantly variable when measured across the urban rooftop canopy; (3) The greenhouse gas emissions return on investment depends on the displaced energy source; (4) The energy return on investment is variable across all rooftop heights, but higher-yield tall buildings with favourable wind conditions should be a priority for urban deployment; and (5) Small urban wind turbines are a viable renewable energy source, offering seasonal and nighttime generation that reduces battery storage needs and associated emissions.
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Citations
Stephan, A., Srikumar, S. K. R., Tsionas, I., Llaguno, M., & Gambale, A. (2025). Deploying small vertical axis wind turbines on urban rooftops—A parametric, dynamic, and hybrid life cycle energy and greenhouse gas emissions analysis. Sustainable Cities and Society, 135, 106977. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2025.106977 (Original work published 2025)