>As with traditional wind turbines, size is key.

>On the other hand, they don't create the noise

>and Aeromine places a relatively small, cheap internal propeller (perhaps 36 inches/91 cm in diameter) in that tube to run a generator

>So what are the downsides? Well, these things need to be installed in spots where the wind direction is pretty constant, because they don't angle themselves to catch a breeze – and they probably never will, since they're designed to be such a cost-conscious machine.

So instead of low-frequency noise they create high-frequency noise, they are less efficient than traditional ones, and they don't even work when the wind is coming in from the wrong direction. On top of that they look like oversized rooftop AC units.

If I had a dime for every project pushing the "this is going to work so much better than traditional wind turbines"-angle and promising that no, this time it's going to be different, really bro just trust me, all we need to do is complicate a very simply design to make it more affordable and efficient I would have a lot of dimes. Maybe even some dollars.

I mean, solar panel output might vary by daytime and cloudcover, but it usually doesn't change all that much due to the sun unexpectedly rising in the north. Solar panels also don't need as much maintenance, and there's not a whole lot that can break, apart from the panel itself. And I don't think birds and instects tend to nest in or on solar panels all that much. Below, maybe.