How does it work?
A Savonius Rotor, or turbine, is a kind of vertical axis wind turbine. The wind blows on the blades of the rotor and makes them turn. The blades turn a shaft. The shaft goes into a gearbox which increases the rotation speed enough for the generator, using magnetic fields, to convert the rotational energy into electrical energy. The power output goes to an invertor which converts the electricity coming out of the generator to 240v AC for domestic use.
In the past, Savonius rotors have been considered poor generators of energy, but this investigation is contributing to recent research which suggests that the Savonius has a useful part to play in creating reliable sources of renewable energy.