The image most people have in their minds when they think of wind turbines are the big, white horizontal-axis wind turbines with their massive blades spinning slowly on a wind-swept plain. But the clean energy revolution--if, in fact, it is a revolution--has room for more than just one design of wind turbine.

But vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) are poised to change the image most people have of wind turbines, mostly because they have started to pop up in places where people never thought wind turbines possible, like on suburban rooftops.

And a new VAWT design from Sauer Energy (SEI) will likely turn even more heads, as its dimpled design could make it more efficient at capturing and converting wind into usable electricity.

Officials from Sauer believes its unique aerodynamics and advanced design features will distinguish its wind turbine system in the residential and micro wind-turbine market.

"We are confident in our plan for commercialization so that we can fulfill our goal of offering a cost effective, green energy solution that lowers the cost of energy bills and replaces the use of hydrocarbons," said Dieter Sauer, President and CEO of SEI,

Validation of Sauer's VAWT concept is currently being carried out by third parties, such as M4 Engineering, to achieve the best path to an optimal commercial product.

According to the company, "The multi-patented design will allow the use of state-of-the-art materials, such as carbon fiber composites, to give it lightweight and long term durability."

Sauer also says the turbine was designed to make it extremely easy to assemble with few tools required, making it "practically plug and play" -- a feature that should definitely help the turbine break into the residential wind turbine market.