Grimshaw Aerogenerator
A Colossal Wind Turbine
We saw, not so long ago, how the Dutch are trying to bring a different aesthetic to wind generation by ditching the single stem support in favour of "wind trees." Now a radically different slant on the idea of generating energy from the wind comes from Nicholas Grimshaw Architects, designers of the "Biome" domes at the Eden Project in Cornwall.
In the UK, there is a target to meet 10% of the nations energy needs by 2010, at the moment, this target is on shaky foundations as the hoards of "Not In My Back Yard" protesters try and halt the progress of clean, green, generation. No sooner is a wind farm proposed, than a local action group voicing the concerns of the vociferous minority is also founded.
All of these arguments begin to make far-off-shore wind look like the sensible option, and Grimshaw has come up with a pioneering solution that looks the part for a new era of the "white heat of sustainable technology" that we are entering into.
Unlike the three bladed turbines that we have come to know which spin on a horizontal axis, the gargantuan Aerogenerator spins on a vertical axis. It looks more like a gigantic television antennae than a turbine and, when moving, I imagine confused boatmen thinking they may have stumbled upon a secret government teleportation project. And it will be huge, yes...that is a battleship in the background...for scale.
Here's a 1024 x 768 wallpaper version of the grimshaw aerogenerator we made, if you're interested.
More after the jump
Spinning at three revolutions a minute, the Aerogenerator could generate around nine megawatts, a massive amount compared to the average of around two megawatts we have come to expect from horizontal turbines. Because of the larger power output, it would be more economical to build out at sea.
The design is derived from the Darrius style of turbine, which rotates on a vertical axis – and as such is omni directional, accepting wind from whichever direction – not requiring a vane to cock the turbine into the wind.
There is also the potential with this design to harness the power of the waves and tides by sub-surface generators.
If all goes well, we could see these generators in three to five years.
All in all, the Aerogenerator looks to be an iconic design, which if proven, could be a familiar and welcome sight to our coastlines.
Via The Guardian