1, 203 swaying reeds in the sand, a new wind farm may very well mark the transition to sustainable and clean energy. Although conventional wind turbines are popular, they face resistance pertaining to noise, overall aesthetic, and their effect on the local wildlife. From the New York-based design firm, Atelier DNA, a radical alternative was proposed. The Windstalk concept draws inspiration from tall reeds in a field. The Windstalk concept eliminates blades and, in doing so, changes how we gain access to wind energy in all situations.
A bladeless and noiseless solution with aesthetic appeal
When considering the Windstalk, it must be remembered that it comprises 1,203 poles that are 55 meters each (180 feet tall). The Windstalk concept explored using carbon fiber-reinforced resin. The poles had to be anchored in the ground in a way that they could still sway in the wind. The compressed discs would generate electricity through an internal cable network when the poles danced in the wind. The beauty part is that the wind farm would produce no noise while generating electricity silently.
The fact that each Windstalk pole was planned to be thicker at the bottom and narrower at the top is a strategic design element. Considered to be 12 inches (30 cm) at the base and 2 inches (5cm) at the top, the idea is to see how much mechanical stress and energy the system can harness.
Every pole was further designed to feature an LED light that glows brighter when the wind energy increases, with the light fading when the wind fades. The design was to create a wind farm that doubles as an incredible light sculpture as well.
The aesthetic wind farm that makes a spectacle at nighttime
While a wind farm with no turbines generating electricity is already something to be taken aback by, the fact that each pole will feature an LED light and turn into something amazing at night is quite something else. The stunning scene is somewhat like a field of moving light glowing at night as it dances to the wind’s rhythm.
Generation of electricity from Windstalk was designed to be both mechanical and piezoelectric, with both being activated with basic movement.
The real machine that can be found hiding in the sand
Now with 1,200 shining towers in the Arab desert, we have an energy plant like nothing seen before. The way Windstalk generates electricity without any turbines is one part of the secret. The biggest secret is the energy system that can be found beneath a sandy structure. There are two chambers in the shape of a bowl that are placed beneath the field.
Wind activates the pumping motion, pumping water from the lower chamber to the upper chamber. Gravity pushes the water back down, and the pumps become generators in that way. The closed-loop system is surely a work of art.
An innovative amalgamation of art, design, and quality engineering
The Windstalk does make the idea of renewable energy seem far more profound. It is known that a single wind turbine generates far more electricity output than a single stalk. However, when all of the Windstalks are packed closely together, the field tends to produce far more electricity than other traditional wind farms.
The Windstalk project is an award-winning design by Atelier DNA that draws inspiration from stalks of wheat. The concept has earned much success at the 2010 Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) competition, and the design suggested that clean energy can be generated by drawing inspiration from nature. Windstalk was designed keeping Masdar City in Abu Dhabi in mind, and the idea was to provide a sustainable energy solution that doubles as a tourist attraction. With a strange wind farm spotted in the UAE, a shocking spectacle is expected every night.
