The wind lens is a modification on the wind turbine created by Professor Ohya from Kyushu University, as an attempt to be more efficient in producing electricity and less invasive to both humans and nature. While still under development, the wind lens incorporates design changes that alter how wind energy is harnessed and reduce its environmental impact. A wind lens works like a ducted fan on an aircraft - it encircles the wind turbine, and speeds air up while protecting the blades from foreign object damage. Consequently, wind turbine efficiency can be drastically increased through the simple installation of a wind lens.

Like a conventional wind turbine, the wind lens harnesses the energy of the wind but incorporates modifications to increase efficiency and decrease environmental impact.

Studies have shown that the wind lens can produce between two and five times more power cthan a standard wind turbine due to its enhanced wind-harvesting design.

The turbulence created as a result of the new configuration creates a low pressure zone behind the turbine, causing greater wind to pass through the turbine, and this, in turn, increases blade rotation and energy output. One way to get the most out of the wind input is by using a specially shaped tube around the blades. The tube, or shroud, is shaped as a diffuser that works like a magnifying glass for wind. The diffuser, which is smaller in the front and bigger in the back, catches more wind and focuses the wind towards the center blades which also leads to more efficient production of power.

In addition to the diffuser shape of the shroud, the back has a brim. This brim disturbs the wind flow which creates vortexes that cause a low pressure area to be formed behind the wind lens. The wind then flows to the low pressure area through the blades of the wind lens. The increased airflow through the blades is another reason for the higher power production.

The diffuser shape and the brim combined create more efficiently placed and accurate airflow. This results in higher energy production.

Complaints about the wind turbine include the effect on the bird population, sound production, and radar interference which limits all its placement in urban areas. The creators of the wind lens took a look at the problems and tried to solve them by adjusting the design.

Wind turbines have a detrimental effect on the bird population due to migration patterns and birds being caught and injured or even killed by the towering high speed blade. To resolve this issue, the wind lens shroud encloses the blades to help prevent birds from entering their path, and a mesh added to both ends prevents birds from being pulled inside. The addition of this mesh causes a negligible decrease in power production, therefore offering a net benefit. In addition to the mesh, the wind lens features a shorter, more compact design than conventional wind turbines, allowing birds to easily fly over it.