This paper gives an overview of a vertical axis wind turbine. The behaviour of the Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT), present technological state, new findings through modelling work and future direction of VAWTs were reviewed. It was observed that VAWT plays a vital role in the present energy crisis. One can foresee that human beings dwelling in a world with wind turbines and solar panels due to present energy crisis with the non-renewable energy. Wind energy has been identified as a promising renewable option
Although the full life cycle accounting shows VAWTs are advantageous on a cost basis or materials basis over horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs), Currently the VAWTs do not generate enough electricity due to some challenges which discussed in this paper. Drag driven VAWT (Savonius type), lift driven VAWT (Darrieus type) and hybrid of both (D+S) turbine efficiencies can be increased by adding the deflector system that guides the wind towards the turbine blades. A lot of researches are ongoing at present in this level.
From the vast survey of the present technological states of VAWT, it was observed that China is the leading researcher in this field for the past few years while European countries serve their place in this research area.