A wind turbine blade works like an aviation wing. For the blade to provide lift and continue rotating, air must flow smoothly over its curved surface. When that smooth flow separates from the surface, lift decreases, drag increases, and the turbine wastes wind that could have been converted into power. For decades, engineers have struggled with this issue, and one of the least expensive solutions is also one of the smallest. To alter the way air behaves as it passes, tiny fins that are only a small portion of the blade's width can be adhered to the surface in tidy rows. Wind energy has a surprisingly lengthy history with what are known as vortex generators.
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