IRWES · Project

Rooftop Wind Turbines Hidden Inside Buildings That Outperform Solar Panels

energyMarket-readyTRL 8

Imagine a sleek structure on top of a tall building that secretly hides a wind turbine inside — no visible blades, no noise complaints. It uses the building's own shape to funnel and accelerate wind, generating electricity even when the breeze is light. On buildings taller than 20 meters, it actually produces more energy per square meter than solar panels. The Dutch company behind it already has 25 units running on real rooftops and 7 commercial projects sold.

By the numbers

Units delivered and operational on real buildings

Commercially sold projects

35,000

Suitable buildings in the Netherlands alone

1/6

Share of European population living in high-rise buildings

20m

Minimum building height for outperforming solar panels

EUR 1,696,380

EU funding received

The business problem

What needed solving

High-rise buildings waste enormous wind energy that flows over their rooftops, while building owners struggle with rising electricity costs and limited options — solar panels often don't produce enough, and traditional wind turbines are ugly, noisy, and blocked by urban regulations. There has been no practical way to harvest wind energy from tall buildings without ruining the skyline.

The solution

What was built

A roof-mounted wind energy system with an invisible internal turbine that uses building aerodynamics to generate electricity. The project delivered a working demonstrator, 25 operational units on real buildings, 7 commercially sold projects, and production moulds ready for mass manufacturing.

Audience

Who needs this

Commercial real estate companies managing high-rise building portfoliosMunicipal housing corporations with tall residential towersProperty developers targeting green building certificationsUrban energy cooperatives seeking local renewable generationFacility managers at corporate office towers above 20m

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Commercial Real Estate

mid-size

Target: Property management companies and building owners with high-rise portfolios

If you are a property manager dealing with rising energy costs and tenant demands for greener buildings — this project developed a roof-mounted wind energy system that produces electricity without visible turbines. With 25 units already operational on real buildings, it works on roofs higher than 20m and generates more energy per area than solar panels, directly reducing your electricity bills.

Urban Energy Utilities

enterprise

Target: Distributed energy providers and municipal utilities

If you are an energy provider struggling to offer renewable power in dense urban areas where solar and traditional wind are impractical — IRWES developed an integrated rooftop system tested at TRL6 and commercially deployed with 25 units. The Netherlands alone has 35,000 suitable buildings, and 1/6 of Europe's population lives in high-rises, giving you a massive addressable market.

Construction & Architecture

any

Target: Architectural firms and building developers focused on sustainable design

If you are a construction developer trying to meet green building certification requirements but find rooftop solar insufficient or aesthetically limiting — IRWES offers an elegant, customizable structure with an invisible turbine inside. It integrates seamlessly into building design, with moulds already fabricated for mass production and 7 projects commercially sold.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does this system cost and what's the return on investment?

The project describes an attractive ROI for buildings higher than 20m, but specific unit pricing is not disclosed in the available data. The system reduces payback time by producing power in both high and low wind speeds, increasing total operational hours compared to conventional urban wind turbines.

Can this scale to large commercial deployments?

Yes. The project delivered 25 operational units and fabricated production moulds specifically for mass manufacturing. The 8 Work Packages were designed to prepare for European mass-market launch, and the Netherlands alone has 35,000 suitable buildings.

What is the IP situation — can I license this technology?

The technology is IP-protected according to the project objective. IBIS POWER BV, a Dutch SME, is the coordinator and likely IP holder. Any licensing or partnership discussions would go through them.

Does it work in low-wind urban environments?

Yes. A key differentiator is that IRWES generates electricity in both high and low wind speeds. The system uses aerodynamics to accelerate airflow around the building's roof, which means it operates more hours per year than conventional urban turbines.

What approvals or regulations apply?

Based on available project data, specific regulatory certifications are not detailed. However, the system was designed for aesthetic integration and customization to meet building codes. The 25 units placed and operational suggest it passed local permitting in the Netherlands.

How proven is this — is it still experimental?

This is well past experimental. The project started at TRL6, delivered a demonstrator within 6 months, placed 25 operational units, and commercially sold 7 projects. Production moulds are fabricated and in use for manufacturing.

What building types does it work on?

The system is designed for buildings higher than 20m, where it outperforms solar panels in energy output per area. Based on the project data, 1/6 of Europe's population lives in high-rise buildings, making this suitable for residential towers, office buildings, and commercial high-rises.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a lean, commercially-focused consortium of just 2 Dutch SME partners — both from industry, zero universities or research institutes. That's unusual and telling: this was never an academic exercise. The 100% industry composition and SME-2 Phase 2 funding (designed for close-to-market innovation) confirm this was about scaling a product, not doing research. IBIS POWER BV coordinated the project with EUR 1,696,380 in EU funding. The all-Dutch, all-SME setup means decisions were fast and commercially driven, which explains how they got from demonstrator to 25 deployed units and 7 sales within 24 months.

How to reach the team

IBIS POWER BV is a Dutch SME based in the Netherlands. SciTransfer can facilitate an introduction to their commercial team.

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Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore rooftop wind energy for your building portfolio? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the IRWES team and provide a tailored briefing on deployment feasibility for your specific buildings.

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