Visual impact.
WES turbines have little visual impact.
This
webpage explains more about the visual impact WES turbines have on the
environment. To read a complete WES-turbine-visual-impact-study please
contact our dealers.
Details that influence visual impact of wind turbines.Many
different kind of turbines and turbine technologies are used around the
globe today. Different kind of turbines and technologies have different
visual impacts. To understand what causes these differences it is
important to take a closer look at turbine details that influence visual
impact. These details include:
- Weight and material-efficiency.
- Shape, design and function.
- Size and rotor diameter.
- Colour.
1) Weight and material-efficiency.The
weight of a wind turbine has a strong effect on visual impact. Heavier
turbines have a bigger visual impact. The best way to compare the weight
of different turbines (and turbine technologies) is to look at
material-efficiency.
Material-efficiency
of a wind turbine is calculated by dividing the mass of the nacelle in
[Kg ] by the total surface of the swept area covered by the rotor in
[m2]. There is a significant variation in material-efficiency between
different wind turbines types and technologies. The picture at the
top right gives an overview of material-effciciency of many different
kind of wind turbines.
2) Shape, design and function.Nacelle
WES
nacelles are light and compact campared with other nacelles. The working
platforms on both side of the nacelle are made of rack material and
combine low visual impact with efficient, spacious and save working
environments for technicians. These working platforms help WES turbines
fade away in the background fast.
Blades
The
rotor and blades of WES turbines absorb mechanical stress in a
efficient way. WES blades are lighter and slimmer compared with other
wind turbine blades. As a result WES turbines fade away faster in the
background.
The second picture on the right illustrates this.
Tower and foundation
The
high material-efficiency of WES turbines allow slimmer and lighter
design of all supporting structures, including towers. The relatively
low amount of material used in the construction of the WES towers makes
WES turbines less visible.
3) Size and rotor diameter.Over
the years power and size of wind turbines have increased rapidly, the
bottom picture at the right gives an overview of the rotor diameter, the
power output and development throughout the years. Today WES turbines
are midsize wind turbines, until 1992 WES turbines were amongst the
biggest turbines on the market.
4) Colour.The
colour of a wind turbine has an effect on the visual impact. The
typical blue colour of WES tnacelles was chosen over 30 years ago. To
optimize the way WES turbines blend in the background the colour of
tower, blades and nacelle can be adjusted to the environment.
Study tourA WES wind- turbine-study-tour is an effective way to understand what influences the visual impact of wind turbines. Come and see with your own eyes.
|
|
 |
Overview of material efficiency.
|
 |
WES blades are slimmer and less visual.
|
|
Overview of turbine sizes through the years.
|
|
Size, blade shape, rotor
shape and turbine
design influence visual impact. |
|
|
