Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine HAWT
This type of wind turbine is the most common and seen across Europe. In simple terms it is 'a wind turbine whose rotor axis is substantially parallel to the wind flow.' (Wind Energy - The Facts. March 2009. A European project financed by the Intelligent Energy).
In general HAWTs used on an industrial scale, such offshore location are most commonly placed upwind, that is to say that the rotor bladed are positioned in front of the tower to face the wind, with the gear and generation system behind. These upwind HAWTs are most popular as the offer higher energy efficiencies because the wind hits the blades directly as opposed to hitting the mechanism first and then the blades as is the case with downwind turbines. The advantage of down wind turbines is that they can pivot in the direction of the wind by using only the wind, as a sail might do by catching the air behind, upwind turbines need to be mechanically turned to face the wind.
Both upwind and and downwind HAWTs can have varying numbers of blades, normally two or three spaced evenly, but single blade turbines do exist as well as small fan turbines with a higher number of blades spaced evenly around the central nose.
Featured articles
Building Safety Wiki Interviews
Chief executive of the British Woodworking Federation.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief explanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.