Tulips towered over people on Tuesday, moments before their metal petals gently unfurled, capturing the breeze and starting the process to energize Lubbock and the wind energy industry.

Dr. Daniel Farb, CEO of Flower Turbines, excitedly spoke on how his journey to change wind energy started with a move from Los Angeles to Israel in 2005 and made its way to Lubbock 17 years later.

"It was kind of a eureka moment," Farb said. "I was at a science museum in Israel, looking at the wave pool, and came up with an idea of how to get energy out of waves better. The basic idea was how can I make the flow of energy interact better with the blades, and I came up with some ideas. Nobody had succeeded in making them available and working right for uses close to people and buildings. So, I began to think about ways in which to improve the aerodynamics of small wind turbines."

Others are reading:Lubbock's Joyland Amusement Park announces final day after 50 years

Flower Turbines chose Lubbock as their U.S. location for several reasons: wind, Texas Tech University, and a hub for manufacturing. The company is working toward making the majority of the turbine parts in the U.S., including patented electronics.

"There's a lot of wind energy work being done here, there's a program at Texas Tech, and with that, there's a lot of expertise here already," Farb said.

Farb added these ways on how the tulip-shaped turbines change the industry:

• They are quiet and efficient.

• Various sizes that work for commercial and residential areas.

• Can start making energy at wind speeds of 1.5 mph.

• Vertical axis instead of the horizontal.

• They can be clustered together, and the design boosts nearby turbines.

• Does not disrupt the environment.

With these bonuses, the floral design also makes them stand out in an appealing way. Flower Turbines plans to continue the artistry with an upcoming line designed by local artists. The artistry and science in the turbines brings together his upbringing, as his father was a scientist and ecology writer, while his mother was a museum director.

"I wanted it to look like a flower, and I went through several iterations ... eventually, we arrived at this design," Farb said, adding that much of the research happened in Israel. "You can call it eco-kinetic art. I tried to fuse science with art, so appearance is something I strive for, but it also has practical value."

The turbines come in three sizes: small, medium and large, all of which can be placed on the ground. The small can go just about anywhere and is good for smaller off-the-grid operations. Mediums can sit on a flat roof, and Flower Turbines is working on a model to use on slanted roofs.

The large, which is not available yet, is a 5 kilowatt turbine and could be used for malls, hospitals, schools, or other businesses. All of the turbines are expected to last about 20-40 years, with little maintenance required due to the symmetrical design.

"Part of my ambition is to democratize energy, which has started to happen already with solar," he said. "We're trying to build them well, and that's why we're trying to make at least a good portion of their parts in the United States."

These could pair well with solar panels, which have been growing in the residential markets.

"If you're going to make (solar panels) part of a micro-grid in an area where there's not so much sun, you don't have that," Farb said. "When you start combining wind and solar, it means you're in control of your own energy."

Discussing poor weather conditions, Farb added an upcoming product - the survival unit. This smaller wind turbine sits on top of a cooler sized container, which can store energy and allow people to charge electronics during emergencies.

Flower Turbines has been operating in Europe, which has energy concerns caused by the war between Ukraine and Russia, for several years. The opening of a Lubbock location will open them to the U.S. market. People interested in the turbines can visit flowerturbines.com, or follow the company on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

Alana Edgin is a journalist covering Business News in Lubbock and the surrounding area. Send her a news tip at aedgin@lubbockonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Flower Turbines opens in Lubbock with wind energy gamechangers