Just as the government is looking at ways of reducing its financial commitment to the solar power panel feed in tariff, over 100 Tory MPs are now calling for the wind farm subsidy to also be cut.
The MPs are questioning the amount of money being spent on wind turbines during these ‘straitened times’.
But the government thinks that wind farms are a ‘cost-effective and valuable part of the UK’s diverse energy mix’. Although it does acknowledge that they are costlier than burning fossil fuel.
What also makes wind turbines unattractive is noise pollution, bird deaths and the difficulties involved in making such large device.
But enter the Windstalk. This project uses tall stalks projecting from the ground that are designed to just wave with the wind generating electricity in the process. Less noise, no danger to wildlife and no energy loss due to the friction between moving parts.
Windstalk: Dario Nunez-Ameni and Thomas Seigl
Designed by New York firm Atelier DNA, the hollow carbon fibre stalks taper from a diameter of 30 cm at the base to 10 cm at their tip. Atop the stalks is an LED light that glows brighter the more electricity it is generating. Within the stalks are piezoelectric ceramic discs interspersed with electrodes so that as the windstalk waves it compresses and decompresses the discs so generating electricity. Their efficiency has been equated with that of traditional wind turbines.
At the base of each stalk is a vortice shaped concrete block with no two vortices being alike. Rainwater is encouraged to gather here at the base and so plants can grow wild.
People can also walk between the stalks, just like in a forest of trees.
Windstalk: Dario Nunez-Ameni and Thomas Seigl
One extra facet is the inclusion of a water based energy storage system underneath the structure. It consists of an upper and lower chamber. When the wind blows some of the energy is used to pump water from the lower chamber to the upper one. Then when the wind abates the water is released to flow back and the pumps become generators.
The Windstalk concept is due to make its debut in the City of Masdar just outside of Abu Dhabi. It will consist of 1,203 stalks each 180 feet tall. This came second in the Land Art Generator Initiative.
Windstalk: Dario Nunez-Ameni and Thomas Seigl
Images courtesy of Darío Núñez-Ameni and Thomas Siegl (Atelierdna)—submission to the 2010 Land Art Generator Initiative design competition
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Tags: environment, News, renewable energy, solar power panels, wind turbines, windstalks
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..What also makes wind turbines unattractive is noise pollution, bird deaths and the difficulties involved in making such large device..
I keep on hearing of bird deaths. Despite the opportunity presented by almost everyone owning a mobile phone with a camera, WHY DO WE SEE NO PICTURES OF THESE DEAD FLOCKS?
Whilst I was living in Ireland there was great consternation whipped up about the dangers posed by building of (microwave) mobile phone masts in a landscape which presented many ‘blank-spots’ to mobile phone users. I pointed out that just off the centre of Thurles, there was a massive phone installation with a large number od immense microwave transmitter/receiver ariels. AND NO DEAD BIRDS!
I agree- the dead bird resistance to windmills is silly. Also, I want to see technical information about this. My engineering sense is that this will take way more energy to produce and maintain this then it will produce. It’s cool conceptual art
PS Without the profitable instalation of new systems, no further research or developments will be encouraged, and we shall face the inevitablity of fuel/power shortages! If you, like I, have lived through such periods (which rarely happen in warm bright weather!) you will fear their return!
Give new systems a fair chance – for your own sake and that of your children.