Indigenous-owned WA firm pitches Archimedes-inspired turbines for remote power

A Western Australian Indigenous energy company says an ancient concept has helped it develop a new approach to powering homes and remote communities, as it begins selling spiral wind turbines across Australia.

Laawun Energy, led by Aboriginal employment and training specialist Marilee Liddell and electrical tradesman Rob Craig, says it has secured exclusive rights to manufacture and distribute Archimedes-style wind turbines in Australia and New Zealand. The small turbines use a spiral design, drawing on the principle behind the Archimedes screw, to capture wind and convert it to electricity.

The couple said they spent more than two years researching the technology and working through approvals before moving into sales, after reaching an agreement with South Korea-based manufacturer Respect Co. They say the design originated in the Netherlands before production shifted to South Korea.

“It’s been a long process” Ms Liddell said. “Nobody in government would help, but we used our own property to demonstrate the product and it works.”

Mr Craig said the system has allowed them to go off-grid at their own property, creating enough electricity to supply multiple households if required. “We produce over a megawatt a month of power – way more than we need” he said.

Laawun Energy is positioning the turbines as an option for places where power supply can be hard to maintain, including regional townships and remote Aboriginal communities. Mr Craig said: “This system would work superbly in a cul-de-sac residential environment with three or four houses and it would work superbly in remote communities where energy can be so intermittent.”

The company says its range includes rooftop and ground-mounted options for domestic and commercial use, and that the turbines are designed to be low-noise and have a small physical footprint. In the First Nations News report, the couple said one turbine could power up to four homes, with prices for a basic domestic set-up starting from about $8,000 to $10,000. They also described the turbines as bird friendly and capable of reducing reliance on diesel generators in some commercial settings.

While wind turbines are already part of Australia’s renewable energy mix, Laawun Energy believes its spiral models can be deployed in settings where conventional tower turbines are impractical. Ms Liddell said the aim is to provide renewable options that can be scaled up with batteries and solar panels to boost reliability for households and community facilities.

The pair plan to promote the business at Supply Nation’s Connect 26 event in Perth in August, targeting partnerships with communities, businesses and service providers looking for local, renewable power solutions.