Bergey Windpower recently announced its BWC Excel 10 wind turbine, the first wind turbine of its kind to receive full certification for the new AWEA Small Wind Turbine Performance and Safety Standard.

"This new standard is the most significant milestone in the history of the small wind industry because it provides, for the first time, third-party verification of real world performance and a highly technical review of a turbine's strength and safety," said Mike Bergey, president of Bergey Windpower.

Bergey's Excel 10 wind turbine stretches 23 feet in diameter and has the capability to provide enough annual energy for homes, farms and small businesses, and requires minimal maintenance.

The certification of the Bergey 10-kilowatt wind turbine comes from the Small Wind Certification Council, which is an independent organization funded by several states, as well as the U.S. Department of Energy.

Another revolutionary wind turbine is the Makani Airborne Wind Turbine, which combines standard wind turbine technology with that of a kite by using carbon-fiber wind and lightweight rotors, according to Earth Techling.