Victor Mendoza, PhD
Chief Executive Officer
Victor Mendoza holds a PhD in Wind Turbine Aerodynamics from Uppsala University and has more than ten years of experience in renewable energy technology development. His work has focused on aerodynamic optimization, computational modeling, prototype development, and offshore wind energy.
Born and raised in Arica, northern Chile, one of the driest inhabited regions in the world, Victor developed an early appreciation for the challenges of living in resource-constrained environments. This experience continues to inspire his work on resilient technologies for extreme environments.
He currently leads turbine aerodynamics activities for multi-megawatt floating offshore wind projects at Hexicon AB. At Red Winds, Victor is responsible for company strategy, product development, partnerships, and commercialization.
His experience combines engineering, technology development, international collaboration, and innovation management, helping bridge advanced research with practical solutions for real-world challenges
Hans Bernhoff, Professor
Chief Technology Officer
Hans Bernhoff is Professor of Engineering at Uppsala University and has more than thirty years of experience in renewable energy systems, including wind, wave, and marine energy technologies.
He has co-founded several renewable energy companies, holds more than thirty patents, and has contributed to the development of large-scale wind-energy systems, including grid-connected prototypes up to 200 kW and innovative structural concepts such as wood-tower wind turbines.
His experience also includes deployment of renewable-energy systems in Antarctica and Greenland to support autonomous scientific infrastructure operating in extreme environments. Before joining academia, Hans worked in industrial research at IBM Zurich and ABB Corporate Research.
At Red Winds, Hans leads technical development, system architecture, structural design, and intellectual property strategy.
Red Winds combines decades of experience in renewable energy, engineering, and technology development. Our team has contributed to projects ranging from large-scale wind turbines and offshore energy concepts to marine energy systems and renewable-energy solutions for polar environments.
Together, Victor and Hans combine expertise in renewable energy, technology development, industrial innovation, and operations in extreme environments. Their work spans research, prototype development, commercialization, and international collaborations, providing Red Winds with a strong foundation for developing resilient technologies for future applications on Earth and beyond.
As a spin-off rooted in research and innovation at Uppsala University, Red Winds benefits from access to advanced research infrastructure, scientific expertise, and a strong network of collaborators across academia, industry, and the space sector.
We bring a proven track record of turning innovative ideas into real-world technologies, supported by international partnerships and multidisciplinary expertise that extend far beyond the company itself.
Selected Experience and Projects
The technologies developed at Red Winds build upon decades of experience in renewable energy systems operating in challenging environments. Our team has contributed to projects ranging from large-scale wind turbines and floating offshore concepts to marine energy systems and renewable-energy solutions deployed in Antarctica.
The examples below illustrate some of the experience, engineering capabilities, and technical foundations that support the development of resilient technologies for future applications on Earth and beyond.
A 200 kW prototype H-rotor in Falkenberg, Sweden.
Ottermo, F., Eriksson, S., Bernhoff, H. (2012).
Parking Strategies for Vertical Axis Wind Turbines,
International Scholarly Research Notices. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.
See related publications.
A bladed H-rotor at the TU Delft Open Jet Facility for investigating the near wake of vertical axis wind turbines.
Mendoza, V., Bachant, P., Ferreira, C., Goude, A. (2019).
Near-wake flow simulation of a vertical axis turbine using an actuator line model,
Wind Energy. Content available from Wind Energy.
See related publications.
The SAVANT is a small SAVonius turbine for ANTarctic conditions, i.e., low temperature, katabatic winds, and demands on very low EM-noise emission to feed measuring equipment with charging power at a low average level (5–10 W depending on wind conditions). This turbine has been employed for the neutrino research project ARIANNA.
Mendoza, V., Katsidoniotaki, E., Bernhoff, H. (2020).
Numerical Study of a Novel Concept for Manufacturing Savonius Turbines with Twisted Blades,
Energies. Content available from Energies.
See related publications.
A straight bladed 12 kW H-rotor vertical axis wind turbine in an open site in the North of Uppsala, Sweden.
Mendoza, V., Goude, A. (2020).
Validation of Actuator Line and Vortex Models Using Normal Forces Measurements of a Straight-Bladed Vertical Axis Wind Turbine,
Energies. Content available from Energies.
See related publications.
A 7.5 kW marine current turbine prototype with five fixed pitch blades connected in direct drive to a permanent magnet synchronous generator in Söderfors, Sweden.
“Strömmarna ger ström” infographic, Arbetarbladet, https://www.arbetarbladet.se/artikel/strommarna-ger-strom
(accessed June 7, 2025)
Forslund, J., Mendoza, V., Goude, A. (2025).
Impact of Blade Pitch Angle on the Turbine Performance of a Vertical Axis Current Turbine,
J. Marine. Sci. Appl.
See related publications.
TwinWind Hexicon’s dual turbine concept which is characterized by a floating foundation, which hosts two wind turbines with relatively close separation between the turbine rotors and weathervanes around its single point mooring system located in front column upwind of the turbines.
Mendoza V., Katsidoniotaki E., Florentiades M., Dot Fraga J., Dyachuk E. (2023).
Aerodynamic performance of a dual turbine concept characterized by a relatively close distance between rotors,
Wind Energy.
See additional information.
World Wide Wind’s Counter-rotating vertical axis turbine concept specifically designed for offshore floating wind power.
Worldwide Wind, https://worldwidewind.no/ (accessed June 7, 2025)
Andersson, E., Bernhoff, H., Goude, A. (2023).
Vortex filament method 3D analysis of design parameters for counter-rotating axis floating tilted turbine,
Journal of Physics: Conference Series. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.
See related publications.