Exploring Vehicle-Induced Turbulence as a Supplemental Energy Source for Sustainable Urban Infrastructure

Muhamad Zahim Sujod

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijees.20251006.12

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Exploring Vehicle-Induced Turbulence as a Supplemental Energy Source for Sustainable Urban Infrastructure

Muhamad Zahim Sujod^*

Published in International Journal of Energy and Environmental Science (Volume 10, Issue 6)

Received: 23 October 2025 Accepted: 12 November 2025 Published: 11 December 2025

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Abstract

The growing energy requirements of modern urban areas, particularly for public infrastructure such as street lighting and signaling systems, have intensified the need for innovative and sustainable renewable energy solutions. Among emerging concepts, vehicle-induced turbulence (VIT) has gained attention as a potential yet underexplored source of supplemental energy in densely populated urban environments. This study investigates the feasibility of harvesting VIT using vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) strategically integrated into roadside infrastructure to capture the airflow generated by moving vehicles. Unlike conventional power systems that rely heavily on grid electricity or fossil fuels, the proposed approach aims to provide a sustainable and cost-effective solution that reduces both operational expenses and environmental impacts. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were conducted using ANSYS to analyze airflow behavior, pressure distribution, and aerodynamic characteristics around the turbine blades under various flow conditions. The turbine geometry and blade tilt angle were optimized based on the simulated wind velocity profiles derived from real-world vehicle flow patterns. Experimental validation through small-scale prototyping confirmed that optimal airflow angles, particularly around 120°, produce sufficient mechanical torque to rotate the turbine effectively. Results demonstrate that integrating small VAWTs into urban infrastructure, such as lighting poles, highway dividers, and sound barriers, can significantly enhance local energy recovery while improving the reliability of off-grid lighting systems. Overall, this research highlights the promising potential of VIT-based microgeneration systems to complement existing renewable energy sources, contributing to the realization of cleaner, smarter, and more resilient urban energy networks.

Published in	International Journal of Energy and Environmental Science (Volume 10, Issue 6)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijees.20251006.12
Page(s)	141-149
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Vehicle-Induced Turbulence (VIT), Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Sustainable Urban Infrastructure, Renewable Energy Harvesting

References

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Sujod, M. Z. (2025). Exploring Vehicle-Induced Turbulence as a Supplemental Energy Source for Sustainable Urban Infrastructure. International Journal of Energy and Environmental Science, 10(6), 141-149. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijees.20251006.12

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ACS Style

Sujod, M. Z. Exploring Vehicle-Induced Turbulence as a Supplemental Energy Source for Sustainable Urban Infrastructure. Int. J. Energy Environ. Sci. 2025, 10(6), 141-149. doi: 10.11648/j.ijees.20251006.12

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AMA Style

Sujod MZ. Exploring Vehicle-Induced Turbulence as a Supplemental Energy Source for Sustainable Urban Infrastructure. Int J Energy Environ Sci. 2025;10(6):141-149. doi: 10.11648/j.ijees.20251006.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijees.20251006.12,
  author = {Muhamad Zahim Sujod},
  title = {Exploring Vehicle-Induced Turbulence as a Supplemental Energy Source for Sustainable Urban Infrastructure},
  journal = {International Journal of Energy and Environmental Science},
  volume = {10},
  number = {6},
  pages = {141-149},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijees.20251006.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijees.20251006.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijees.20251006.12},
  abstract = {The growing energy requirements of modern urban areas, particularly for public infrastructure such as street lighting and signaling systems, have intensified the need for innovative and sustainable renewable energy solutions. Among emerging concepts, vehicle-induced turbulence (VIT) has gained attention as a potential yet underexplored source of supplemental energy in densely populated urban environments. This study investigates the feasibility of harvesting VIT using vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) strategically integrated into roadside infrastructure to capture the airflow generated by moving vehicles. Unlike conventional power systems that rely heavily on grid electricity or fossil fuels, the proposed approach aims to provide a sustainable and cost-effective solution that reduces both operational expenses and environmental impacts. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were conducted using ANSYS to analyze airflow behavior, pressure distribution, and aerodynamic characteristics around the turbine blades under various flow conditions. The turbine geometry and blade tilt angle were optimized based on the simulated wind velocity profiles derived from real-world vehicle flow patterns. Experimental validation through small-scale prototyping confirmed that optimal airflow angles, particularly around 120°, produce sufficient mechanical torque to rotate the turbine effectively. Results demonstrate that integrating small VAWTs into urban infrastructure, such as lighting poles, highway dividers, and sound barriers, can significantly enhance local energy recovery while improving the reliability of off-grid lighting systems. Overall, this research highlights the promising potential of VIT-based microgeneration systems to complement existing renewable energy sources, contributing to the realization of cleaner, smarter, and more resilient urban energy networks.},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Exploring Vehicle-Induced Turbulence as a Supplemental Energy Source for Sustainable Urban Infrastructure
AU  - Muhamad Zahim Sujod
Y1  - 2025/12/11
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijees.20251006.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijees.20251006.12
T2  - International Journal of Energy and Environmental Science
JF  - International Journal of Energy and Environmental Science
JO  - International Journal of Energy and Environmental Science
SP  - 141
EP  - 149
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2578-9546
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijees.20251006.12
AB  - The growing energy requirements of modern urban areas, particularly for public infrastructure such as street lighting and signaling systems, have intensified the need for innovative and sustainable renewable energy solutions. Among emerging concepts, vehicle-induced turbulence (VIT) has gained attention as a potential yet underexplored source of supplemental energy in densely populated urban environments. This study investigates the feasibility of harvesting VIT using vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) strategically integrated into roadside infrastructure to capture the airflow generated by moving vehicles. Unlike conventional power systems that rely heavily on grid electricity or fossil fuels, the proposed approach aims to provide a sustainable and cost-effective solution that reduces both operational expenses and environmental impacts. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were conducted using ANSYS to analyze airflow behavior, pressure distribution, and aerodynamic characteristics around the turbine blades under various flow conditions. The turbine geometry and blade tilt angle were optimized based on the simulated wind velocity profiles derived from real-world vehicle flow patterns. Experimental validation through small-scale prototyping confirmed that optimal airflow angles, particularly around 120°, produce sufficient mechanical torque to rotate the turbine effectively. Results demonstrate that integrating small VAWTs into urban infrastructure, such as lighting poles, highway dividers, and sound barriers, can significantly enhance local energy recovery while improving the reliability of off-grid lighting systems. Overall, this research highlights the promising potential of VIT-based microgeneration systems to complement existing renewable energy sources, contributing to the realization of cleaner, smarter, and more resilient urban energy networks.
VL  - 10
IS  - 6
ER  -

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Author Information

Muhamad Zahim Sujod

Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), Pekan, Malaysia

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6102-1556

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APA Style

Sujod, M. Z. (2025). Exploring Vehicle-Induced Turbulence as a Supplemental Energy Source for Sustainable Urban Infrastructure. International Journal of Energy and Environmental Science, 10(6), 141-149. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijees.20251006.12

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ACS Style

Sujod, M. Z. Exploring Vehicle-Induced Turbulence as a Supplemental Energy Source for Sustainable Urban Infrastructure. Int. J. Energy Environ. Sci. 2025, 10(6), 141-149. doi: 10.11648/j.ijees.20251006.12

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AMA Style

Sujod MZ. Exploring Vehicle-Induced Turbulence as a Supplemental Energy Source for Sustainable Urban Infrastructure. Int J Energy Environ Sci. 2025;10(6):141-149. doi: 10.11648/j.ijees.20251006.12

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijees.20251006.12,
  author = {Muhamad Zahim Sujod},
  title = {Exploring Vehicle-Induced Turbulence as a Supplemental Energy Source for Sustainable Urban Infrastructure},
  journal = {International Journal of Energy and Environmental Science},
  volume = {10},
  number = {6},
  pages = {141-149},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijees.20251006.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijees.20251006.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijees.20251006.12},
  abstract = {The growing energy requirements of modern urban areas, particularly for public infrastructure such as street lighting and signaling systems, have intensified the need for innovative and sustainable renewable energy solutions. Among emerging concepts, vehicle-induced turbulence (VIT) has gained attention as a potential yet underexplored source of supplemental energy in densely populated urban environments. This study investigates the feasibility of harvesting VIT using vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) strategically integrated into roadside infrastructure to capture the airflow generated by moving vehicles. Unlike conventional power systems that rely heavily on grid electricity or fossil fuels, the proposed approach aims to provide a sustainable and cost-effective solution that reduces both operational expenses and environmental impacts. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were conducted using ANSYS to analyze airflow behavior, pressure distribution, and aerodynamic characteristics around the turbine blades under various flow conditions. The turbine geometry and blade tilt angle were optimized based on the simulated wind velocity profiles derived from real-world vehicle flow patterns. Experimental validation through small-scale prototyping confirmed that optimal airflow angles, particularly around 120°, produce sufficient mechanical torque to rotate the turbine effectively. Results demonstrate that integrating small VAWTs into urban infrastructure, such as lighting poles, highway dividers, and sound barriers, can significantly enhance local energy recovery while improving the reliability of off-grid lighting systems. Overall, this research highlights the promising potential of VIT-based microgeneration systems to complement existing renewable energy sources, contributing to the realization of cleaner, smarter, and more resilient urban energy networks.},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Exploring Vehicle-Induced Turbulence as a Supplemental Energy Source for Sustainable Urban Infrastructure
AU  - Muhamad Zahim Sujod
Y1  - 2025/12/11
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijees.20251006.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijees.20251006.12
T2  - International Journal of Energy and Environmental Science
JF  - International Journal of Energy and Environmental Science
JO  - International Journal of Energy and Environmental Science
SP  - 141
EP  - 149
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2578-9546
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijees.20251006.12
AB  - The growing energy requirements of modern urban areas, particularly for public infrastructure such as street lighting and signaling systems, have intensified the need for innovative and sustainable renewable energy solutions. Among emerging concepts, vehicle-induced turbulence (VIT) has gained attention as a potential yet underexplored source of supplemental energy in densely populated urban environments. This study investigates the feasibility of harvesting VIT using vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) strategically integrated into roadside infrastructure to capture the airflow generated by moving vehicles. Unlike conventional power systems that rely heavily on grid electricity or fossil fuels, the proposed approach aims to provide a sustainable and cost-effective solution that reduces both operational expenses and environmental impacts. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were conducted using ANSYS to analyze airflow behavior, pressure distribution, and aerodynamic characteristics around the turbine blades under various flow conditions. The turbine geometry and blade tilt angle were optimized based on the simulated wind velocity profiles derived from real-world vehicle flow patterns. Experimental validation through small-scale prototyping confirmed that optimal airflow angles, particularly around 120°, produce sufficient mechanical torque to rotate the turbine effectively. Results demonstrate that integrating small VAWTs into urban infrastructure, such as lighting poles, highway dividers, and sound barriers, can significantly enhance local energy recovery while improving the reliability of off-grid lighting systems. Overall, this research highlights the promising potential of VIT-based microgeneration systems to complement existing renewable energy sources, contributing to the realization of cleaner, smarter, and more resilient urban energy networks.
VL  - 10
IS  - 6
ER  -

Copy | Download