PART-03

Read the text and answer Questions 28-40.

WIND POWER – A TURN FOR THE BETTER

In an effort to find alternative sources of energy, some governments have turned to wind power as a possible solution. However, this has proved controversial, as Steve Rose reports

A Think of wind power and the first image to spring to mind is most likely a giant, three-bladed propeller spinning atop a slim tower, probably in a rural area. Chances are that’s actually the only image that springs to mind – and that’s the problem.

B To renewable-energy supporters, wind turbines symbolise the hope of a green, clean future, but to opponents, they might as well be invaders from outer space. In the UK, with plans for new wind farms proceeding apace in an effort to meet the government’s interim target for renewable-sourced energy, the debate has reached crisis point. Anti-wind farm groups have been springing up wherever wind farms are proposed; some opponents say they would rather have a nuclear power station in their backyard than see the rural landscape covered in propellers on sticks. And as long as propellers on sticks are the only option, pro- and anti-wind farm camps are unlikely ever to agree. The debate is clearly as much about the aesthetics of wind power as the politics and practicalities but, at present, wind turbines barely rank above electricity pylons in terms of aesthetic consideration. Members of the design community are, however, rising to the challenge.

C One of the most striking projects rethinks the idea of the turbine entirely. It is called an Aerogenerator and it looks nothing like a propeller on a stick. The Aerogenerator, designed by Grimshaw Architects, is arguably the first wind turbine design to capture the spirit of pioneering optimism that these structures sought to express. It could also be a very practical option, especially since it would be situated offshore, far away from anyone’s backyard. While conventional turbines rotate on a horizontal axis, the tall, V-shaped Aerogenerator spins on a vertical axis, like a record. Unlike horizontal-axis designs, vertical-axis turbines can harness wind energy from any direction, and because the moving parts and the generator are at ground level, they are easier to maintain.

D ‘Our engineer thought about the problems with traditional turbines and developed a new design,’ says Theo Bird, founder of Windpower Ltd., who is funding this new Aerogenerator project through a combination of a government grant and the money he was saving to buy a new house. ‘By making our turbine so large, we can build offshore, where there’s more wind. It’s got to be something strong and simple to work at sea. And in the future, you could possibly double the power from each turbine by harnessing tidal power beneath the surface of the sea.’ ‘Also,’ adds Bird, ‘we saw it as a striking landmark that could enhance the entrance of a harbour or an industrial port.’

E Beyond making more attractive wind farms, there is also potential for integrating turbines directly into buildings. After all, if nobody wants wind turbines in the countryside, why not put them in the cities? Cities already have high-rise structures in which to incorporate turbines that would be in tune with a man-made environment. Added to this, there would be less need to transport the electricity large distances to its users.

F It took a long time for architects to successfully incorporate effective wind turbines into buildings. The architect Richard Rogers proposed an integral turbine for the Tomigaya Tower in Tokyo in 1993, but his plan was turned down. In more recent efforts, such as William Pedersen’s sports centre in New York, wind turbines seem to be environmentally friendly but do not provide a real solution to energy requirements.

G Going a step further, several years ago a European Commission-sponsored organisation named Project WEB (Wind Energy for the Built Environment) investigated in detail the possibility of constructing a purpose-built wind-powered skyscraper. According to Project WEB’s environmental engineer, Sinisa Stankovic, under the right circumstances such a building could generate nearly all of its own energy needs. Yet despite the proven effectiveness of Project WEB’s designs (which also included a four-tower design that could harness wind from any direction), the realities of the construction industry kept them on the drawing board.

H A project that came closer to realisation was the controversial Freedom Tower in New York. At the top of this enormous tower, architects intended to create a 150 m-high open cage structure containing a wind turbine. The skyscraper beneath it was shaped to channel the wind up into it, and it could have generated a quarter of the building’s needs – a genuine urban wind farm. Despite this design receiving widespread approval, other factors came to take precedence over environmental considerations. So instead of a powerful advertisement for wind power’s potential to the world, the Freedom Tower became a rather ordinary office block. Guy Battle, a much respected expert in the field of environmental and sustainable architecture, was consulting engineer for the project.

I As energy from fossil fuels becomes more scarce and expensive, the energy performance of buildings can only increase in importance. ‘Traditional buildings have been a drain on infrastructure – water, electricity, waste disposal, etc.’ says Battle. ‘It’s no longer about just responding to cultural and social urban factors. It’s a whole different layer of architecture coming through that will begin to change the face of our cities.