Wind Energy

NEG Micon - Powerful Simplicity

The response of the Danish based company NEG Micon emphasises the positive public and commercial image that the wind power indus­try has achieved over recent years in Denmark. The benefits of strong government backing combined with sensitive planning are articulat­ed below by CARL OLESEN.

In Denmark the international agreements on the reduction of carbon dioxide are taken very seriously and the country is keen to demonstrate that it is a pioneer of the new power revolution. Wind turbines are an efficient and fast means of realising this goal. The Danish Government has set a target to reach 1,500 MW land based wind turbine capacity by the year 2005, which will correspond to approximately 10% of the nation's power consumption.

Wind turbines are an extremely important Danish export and at present the country controls 60-65% of the world market. However, it is the strong Danish home market which enables the development of products which can then be used for export. The on-going exchange of old wind turbines for new more efficient models ensures steady business whilst increasing power production from the same number of turbines. The prospect of new off-shore based solutions over the next couple of years is also exciting the Danish wind industry.

In terms of the visual perception of wind turbines NEG Micon, in con-junction with local authorities, attempts to show consideration towards nature and the local environment before agreeing where to place turbines. Through photographic surveys and wind turbine visualisations the impact of the structure on a particular landscape is assessed. Dimensions of the towers, blades and nacelle are carefully considered and are consistent in size to adjacent installations. NEG Micon believes that it is this attention to detail which means that their wind farms not only harmonise within them-selves but also with the surrounding environment - especially when viewed from a distance.

The 1.5MW NEG Micon wind turbine was designed in collaboration with the well known company "Jacob Jensen Design". Several suggestions were evaluated taking aesthetic, economical and technical criteria into consideration five 1:40 scale models were made the final evaluation.

The solution expresses NEG Micon's design philosophy of Powerful Simplicity: to create wind turbines with a smooth, aerodynamic look, which reduces the visual impact on the landscape.

NEG Micon fully understands the necessity of good locational planning and knows well that turbines erected too closely together causing visual intrusion will only court bad press and public discontent. In Tarifa, Spain, the company has an excellent example the wind farm with 12 550kW turbines that fit the landscape and surround ings. Such installations demonstrats how viewing a wind farm can be a positive experience in a situation where the structure becomes part of the any ronment's scenic value.

Whether turbines ought to be please closer to industrial centres is also and important issue. One argument is that turbines should be placed where the winds are strongest away from the interference of large industrial areas. However, it is also logical that turbines should be placed in regions which have already accepted a certain level of visual "pollution" from industrial buildings.

Wind Directions, November, 2001

Questions for text:

1. What is the aim of the new power revolution?

2. Tell about wind turbines in Denmark.

3. What must be taken into consideration while placing wind turbines and why?

4. Tell about Spanish example of wind turbines.