Integrated Wind Turbines in Bahrain Skyscraper

Bahrain World Trade Centre has integrated wind turbine generators

Bahrain World Trade Center Wind Turbines

The Bahrain World Trade Center (BWTC) - a pair of linked skyscrapers - has been built with three integrated 29-metre diameter wind turbine generators. Each turbine has been installed on its own specially strengthened bridge between the two 50-storey 240 metre tall office towers situated on the Manama Waterfront, Bahrain.

Reduced Carbon Emissions

Once operational the three turbines will generate well over 1000 MWh of electricity per year - enough to supply 11-15% of the energy requirements of the buildings. The wind turbines will also eliminate 55,000 tonnes of carbon emissions (1) annually.

Aerodynamic Wind Turbine Design

The towers have been aerodynamically designed and located such that the sea breeze from the Gulf is funneled onto the turbines. Each tower acts as an aerofoil directing and accelerating the winds that hit them.

The clever design - inspired by the Arabian wind towers historically used to cool buildings in The Gulf - means that wind hitting the towers at an angle of up to 45 degrees from perpendicular will be redirected straight onto the wind turbines for maximum power generation.

Norwin and Ramboll

The project developers turned to Danish expertise to implement their wind turbine plans - Norwin (2) and Ramboll (3). Many risk factors had to be considered such as noise, load, vibrations, construction materials and so on for this ground-breaking project. The EU has previously funded studies on the integration of wind turbines into buildings however the immense technical difficulty of such an endeavour has prevented work starting on any real projects in Europe.

As the first installation of its type in the world, designers and architects will be watching closely to check the levels of vibration through the buildings and if the structure can cope with the stresses caused by the fast rotation of the rotors in strong winds.

BWTC Launch

The official launch of the Bahrain World Trade Center will be during the second quarter of 2007 with project completion due at the end of first quarter 2007. The wind turbines were installed in mid-March 2007.

More Information

To find out more about the Bahrain World Trade Center (4) please click here.

Web Link References

(1) http://www.reuk.co.uk/carbon.htm
(2) http://www.norwin.dk
(3) http://www.ramboll.dk
(4) http://bahrainwtc.com/

Article from REUK.co.uk:
http://www.reuk.co.uk/Integrated-Wind-Turbines-in-Bahrain-Skyscraper.htm
Published: 27th March 2007
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