Patent ID: 8299644

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a support structure configured to elevate a wind turbine above the ground, the support structure comprising walls defining a chamber configured to be in fluid communication with a gas compressor operated by the wind turbine, the chamber also configured to store gas compressed by the compressor, the apparatus further comprising a nacelle in rotational communication with the support structure through a joint, the nacelle housing the turbine, the apparatus further comprising a gear system, a generator, a first physical linkage between the generator and the gear system, an expander in fluid communication with the chamber, a second physical linkage between the expander and the gear system, and a third physical linkage between the turbine and the gear system, wherein the gear system, the generator, the first physical linkage, the expander, and the second physical linkage are located outside the nacelle, and wherein the third physical linkage traverses the joint.