A method for starting a wind turbine with hinged wind turbine blades, the wind turbine further comprising an adjustable biasing mechanism arranged to apply an adjustable biasing force to each wind turbine blade which biases the wind turbine blade towards a position defining a minimum pivot angle. The biasing mechanism is adjusted to apply a predefined biasing force to each wind turbine blade, and the pivot angle of each wind turbine blade is monitored. The wind turbine is started in the case that the pivot angle of at least one wind turbine blade exceeds a predefined pivot angle threshold.

A wind turbine hub assembly including: a plurality of radially arranged blade attachment members for attaching blades with a radially outer blade section with a leading edge and trailing edge wherein each blade extends outwardly from and about a central axis of rotation; a central hub assembly configured to rotate about the axis of rotation with the plurality of blade attachment members being radially arranged and hingedly connected relative to the central hub assembly by respective hinge arrangements to allow relative movement of the blade attachment members relative to the central hub assembly; one or more biasing structures operatively coupled with each blade attachment member wherein a first end of said each biasing structure is attached to the central hub assembly and a second end of the biasing structure is attached to a respective blade attachment member for applying a biasing force.

A wind turbine hub assembly including: a plurality of radially arranged blade attachment members for attaching blades with a radially outer blade section with a leading edge and trailing edge wherein each blade extends outwardly from and about a central axis of rotation; a central hub assembly configured to rotate about the axis of rotation with the plurality of blade attachment members being radially arranged and hingedly connected relative to the central hub assembly by respective hinge arrangements to allow relative movement of the blade attachment members relative to the central hub assembly; one or more biasing structures operatively coupled with each blade attachment member wherein a first end of said each biasing structure is attached to the central hub assembly and a second end of the biasing structure is attached to a respective blade attachment member for applying a biasing force.

A wind turbine is provided. The turbine includes a support having an axis of rotation, a generator, a plurality of blades rotatably mounted on the support about the axis of rotation, the blades being moveable between a retracted position generally parallel with the axis of rotation and a fully deployed position generally perpendicular with the axis of rotation, the blades being connected to the generator such that rotation of the blades in a direction induced by wind causes the generator to produce electricity, and the provision of electricity to the generator rotates the blades, and a controller connected to the generator and configured to deliver a flow of current to the generator that is sufficient to move the blades from the retracted position toward the fully deployed position and insufficient to move the blades all the way to the fully deployed position. The flow of current induces rotation of the blades in the direction induced by wind, which creates a centrifugal force that moves the blades from the retracted position toward the fully deployed position. As the blades move from the retracted position, the blades have increasing exposure to ambient wind to receive additional rotational force from ambient wind, and the additional rotational force being sufficient to, either alone or in combination with the flow of current, move the blades into the fully deployed position.