Cleantech
Dutch Venture Developing Livable Windmills Powered by Wind Energy

Imagine living in a luxurious circular skyscraper, with a breathtaking view and without electricity bills on the table. As futuristic as that my seem, it may not be too far off, according to Lennart Graaff, director of Windwheel Corporation.

The Netherlands-based consortium of companies BLOC, DoepelStrijkers and Meysters has plans to construct what it calls the “Dutch Windwheel,” a double-ring rotating edifice that is powered by the wind energy it generates.

The outer ring houses 40 rotating cabins on a rail system, while the inner ring is a windmill housing a panorama restaurant, sky lobby and hotel, apartments and commercial functions. The proposed location of the Dutch Windwheel is the port city of Rotterdam, considered to be the architectural capital of the Netherlands.

“The idea was born when the initiators were discussing that Rotterdam is booming, but could really use an iconic attraction,” Graaff told Sustainable Brands. “From the start it was the goal to combine that with ideas for a 100 percent sustainable building, a platform for all kinds of technological innovations.”

The proposed structure would produce energy by employing EWICON (Electrostatic WInd energy CONverter) technology, which was developed by a consortium including the TU Delft and Wageningen University in a government innovation program.

This new wind turbine converts wind energy with a framework of steel tubes into electricity without moving mechanical parts, Graaff said, resulting in less wear, lower maintenance costs and no noise or moving shadow.

However, the energy EWICON currently can deliver is too low to meet the facility's likely demands, Graaff said, and there still is about seven years to optimize the production. Researchers think EWICON can be financially competitive with traditional wind energy in two to four years. Besides EWICON, solar also could be applied to the Dutch Windmill.

The attraction ring functions as a giant ferris wheel, Graaff explained.

“Visitors from around the world can enjoy fabulous views of Rotterdam and the surrounding area from the giant coaster in the outer ring that contains 30 cabins,” he said. “Each 'ride' takes 30 minutes. The cabins of the coaster are equipped with so-called ‘smart walls,’ glass panels that include a virtual layer of information that give the visitor an extra dimension of information.”

Adding to the futuristic ambience, holograms in the cabins serve as virtual tour guides.

The Dutch Windwheel will provide a continuous platform to demonstrate technical and technological innovations, Graaff said. It is intended to be an accelerator for innovation and renewable energy, a dynamic showcase for clean technology.

The development of the Windwheel will be managed by the Windwheel Corporation, Graaff said. An implementation alliance is being formed with developers, investors, research institutes, operators, government agencies, energy companies and marketing organizations.

“Cost estimates will be published in a later stage,” Graaff said. But he expects the venture to be profitable within 10 years.

Clean energy is “key” to climate action, and countries around the world are beginning to establish solid goals for increasing wind and solar energy production capacities, as well as other renewable energy sources. Denmark already generates more than 40 percent of its energy from renewable sources, and is headed toward 50 percent by 2020. The Danes late last year announced an ambitious goal to wean themselves off of fossil fuels and power the entire country with renewables by 2050.