A new type of bladeless technology could become the ‘rooftop solar’ of the wind power sector – according to Madrid-based start-up Vortex Bladeless, which is hoping to overcome the barriers that have led to a surge of Nimbyism: people not wanting traditional turbines in their backyard. Competing with solar power, however, could hold the technology back from ever taking off at all. Vortex Bladeless’ system – crudely dubbed as a ‘skybrator’ by many – is a vertical, cylindrical column, which is allowed to oscillate elastically around its anchored base. Aiming to harness a phenomenon known as ‘aeroelastic resonance’ or ‘vortex shedding,’ any vorticity in the prevailing wind translate into large oscillations along the cylinder, which can then be converted into…