Vertical axis turbine....ill advised or still viable?

Our situation still has me thinking about this option.  When looking at numerous reviews of commercial low wattage (1000 - 2000W) turbines of this type, most report disappointment in the power generated by this style of turbine.  One of my earliest documents describing Savonius type vertical wind turbines was Michael Hacklemann's 'Windspinner' publication, illustrating the use of half-barrels positioned to obtain spin and using car alternators for the power generation.  Today, it appears that one might find dedicated permanent magnet rotors for wind power production, even as most of those are sold for DIY projects towards horizontal turbine builds.  Whether a vertical turbine might be produced as a DIY project or purchased as a completed commercial unit, my interest here is due to location in a fairly windy region (Minnesota-North Dakota border), yet having a farm-yard with deep windbreaks.  I'm just not so interested in getting a tall tower up above the tree line out of the way of turbulence.  Rather a vertical turbine is more immune to turbulence and could be positioned more accessible in the farmyard for maintenance, even as it suffers efficiency detriments compared to its horizontal axis cousins.  Irrespective of how we might end up using either electrical or mechanical power generated by such a beast, do any others on this forum have or know of vertical wind-power turbines in their area that the owners find quite useful?  If so, are these DIY builds or purchased commercial products? Thanks!....

There are still people doing research on this area - the concept is definitely not "dead".

Think of it as we do with plants - the right plant in the right place based on conditions, is better than no plant, and possibly better than what looks like a better plant except for factors that make it not so good.

I'm pretty sure that the most recent stuff I read spoke highly of vertical axis for the following conditions:
1. Yes - inconsistent wind or wind that isn't where you can easily access it.
2. locations where tall poles where large blades would be either too noisy or too dangerous.
3. locations where compact is an option.
4. locations where small amounts of power are appreciated.

So I believe the recent research I saw was aimed at cities, particularly harvesting wind from on top of buildings where it helped to reduce city "wind tunnel" effects. You could think of it as improving city livability by harvesting the wind and getting electricity as a side benefit!

A second lot of research was about how the shape of the "cups" for catching the wind could significantly improve the efficiency. I don't have time for searching now, but I know that the "half circle" (like the barrel you mentioned) lost out compared to a more complex shape which my memory says involved more of the shell shape. The same research hunt, my memory is also saying it involved a gap at the axis calculated to dump the air that the first cup had used into the second cup to increase how much energy came out. Think of my crappy memory as giving you ideas to search for, *definitely* don't quote me, as I am definitely not an engineer.

One of the things permies tend to do is conserve energy in all its forms. That means that a "less perfect" compared to what the average modern human expects to do, may be more than adequate for ones needs. I would absolutely research this John, and see if you can come up with something that will work for you.