| Bahrain World Trade Center Getting Its Turbines |
| Written by Hank Green | |
| Thursday, 06 September 2007 | |
 I just got a completely unsolicited email from Shaun Killa, the head of Atkins Architecture in Dubai. This, of course, is a fantastically gigantic and important job. Basically, he is in charge of the first ever skyscraper with integrated wind turbines. So I was excited to get the email. Well, I was even more excited to see the contents. Up-close and personal shots of the Bahrain World Trade Center getting its turbines installed. This really is a massive project. After the jump are some concept and real-life shots. Click on the real-life shots for a large version.   In the larger version of this picture you can see that the turbines will have the ability to automatically shorten and slow themselves in times of severe weather by twisting their tips. 
And here we can see one of the big problems faced be folks working on wind power in the desert...namely...dust. If you look closely here you can actually see that someone is standing inside the turbine, where the generator will be. Comments
(38)
I love engineers
written by Ella , September 07, 2007
they're so inventive sometimes. Turbins on skyscapers? Awesome!!!
great looking but...
written by The Naib , September 07, 2007
Is it just me, or is this a giant waste of money, because the turbines cant pivot they are not going to get much wind (specially with a giant building on each side) and the air turbulence from the buildings is also going to make the maintenance costs astronomical. All for not much energy production.
No to mention the end of those blades is perilously close to the building, they start spinning at a couple hundred miles per hour you wont get me near them windows. Good thing they never get ice in Dubai, one tiny chunk of anything flowing off the blades would break a lot of glass.
I suspect...
written by Rob , September 07, 2007
that all the aerodynamics were carefully worked out before construction. You may well find that being coastal and in that part of the world, the wind only really blows in two directions (i.e., on-shore and off-shore), and that the turbines are aligned to that. You may also find that the two towers act as a kind of wind tunnel as well (I'd be surprised if they didn't in fact).
As for the strength and safety of those windows, well, I don't know for sure, but I doubt very much that the building would have got planning permission if it wasn't pretty safe. The downside of all of this is that, alas, Dubai is probably the most tasteless place on the planet at the moment, and the vast majority of the massive amount of property development happening there is quite the opposite of eco-friendly.
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written by wxwax , September 07, 2007
Neat concept. Really curious to find out how much power they'll generate, whether they're show horses or working horses.
I wouldn't worry about the proximity of the props to the building, airplanes seem to manage OK.
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written by jgs , September 08, 2007
By the way, Bahrain ain't Dubai. It's an island much further north up the Gulf. They're hundreds of km apart.
Meaningless integrated design
written by Pete , September 08, 2007
A windmill of this size creates a volume of approx. 96-101 dB(A). On top of that there are multiple identical sound sources (3 wind mills), generating another 4 dB(A). According to most building codes, the highest acceptable indoor sound level is 40-45 dB(A). It would take a distance of 300-400 meters from the sound source to the listener to reach this level. I wonder how the engineers made a technical solution to the building to deal with the obvious noise problem?
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written by Common Sense , September 08, 2007
The turbines don't need to rotate, because the buildings funnel air between them.
All skyscraper construction has to take into account how wind will affect the buildings, *AND* how the wind will affect other buildings nearby.
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written by Sam , September 08, 2007 I wonder how the engineers made a technical solution to the building to deal with the obvious noise problem? Maybe they used a magic noise canceling pencil when designing it! Or, just maybe, they're going to use some form of double or triple glazing... Seriously, why do some of you seem to think you know better than a team of architects and engineers!?
InfografiX
written by LastLoneWolf , September 08, 2007
Ridiculously small wind turbines. BTW, it's better to install solar cells under such latitudes. These arab turbines are just for the "wow" effect.
Now look down at these "casual" ones (200 ft dia. propeller, 450 ft tall) in Switzerland, not really known as specialists in that matter (Germans are better), and hold back your "Awesome" for something slightly more interesting in terms of size: http://www.vernayaz.ch/vivre/pratique/eolienne.php And this one holds a standing man in one of the BLADES (besides, my home would fit in its generator cell, instead of the above mentionned .... mmmh ... cartrunk.) : http://www.rhoneole.ch/historique.htm These, by far, are'nt the biggest ones but already "blow" those "Bahrain WTC" propeller-hat toys. Now about noise: given the proportions, the building itself will generate way more noise than those microscopic blades. And, just for info, a "real" wind turbine rotates at a max. speed of ... 1 turn per 3 seconds. So, c'mon, "spinning at a couple hundred miles per hour"... hey, it's not an aircraft, right !
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written by Buster P. Keaton , September 08, 2007
Infografix: nobody said these were the world's largest wind turbines. Or, for that matter, larger dan a certain other wind turbine in Switzerland.
The rest of you are incredible smartasses, too.
you guys are clueless
written by Jacques Mattheij , September 09, 2007
Really.
go build a windmill and learn before spouting off. 1) the blades don't shorten, they simply pivot to change pitch. 2) the turbines are small, but not *that* small, and three of them will produce appreciable power. If the wind was going to be there anyway then you might as well use it, and solar doesn't work at night now, does it ? 3) I've stood under windmills of that size and you don't hear a thing, just a light 'swoosh' as the blade passes over you. 96 DBA is only relevant when the manufacturers paperwork is cited or you have been measuring on site. Otherwise it's just a number pulled out of the air. (or worse). 4) you'd be surprised how fast the actual blade tips go, 3 turns per second at 17 m diameter or thereabouts is approximately 200 km/h. It's not quite at aircraft speed but it's getting there. 5) I'd be more concerned with vibration, those are geared mills and they produce a bit more vibration than direct drive machines, and that vibration will be transfered to the structural member supporting the mill. From there to the building. It would need some pretty serious damping. If it is PR then at least be happy it's PR for something good, renewable energy. Beats the shit out of some lightshow or so advertising soft drinks or cell phones.
Incredible
written by Live TV , September 09, 2007
Bahrain is pretty amazing, it's the closest nation to Saudi/in the UAE that allows alcohol so people from all around come to the tiny island nation to drink or work or whatever. But being waterlocked means they've have to rely heavily on what they have, since trade can be expensive since all foreign commerce has to go by plane or by water, so they had to find alternate ways for energy since they don't have coal, and they're not as rich in oil as their neighbours. Wind is a very effective way to generate this power, good for them and I'd love to visit the country again especially having seen all the strides they made in the past few years.
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written by Hamayela , September 09, 2007
well to those think it's a giant waist of money, it's not! they project is well studied, and the turbines are supposed to save up to 15% of the power. go to any skyscraper, cut 15% off it's electricity bill, and check the grin and the faces of the accountants. of course in this case we have 2 skyscrapers.
Causeway
written by NickW , September 09, 2007
Bahrain is not completely waterlocked - there's a road causeway linking it to Saudi Arabia. The joke was it was built straight one direction (Saudi to Bahrain) but wiggly in the reverse direction, to help all the Saudi motorists who had gone to Bahrain to partake of alcohol and had to weave their way back home drunk.
Before the causeway was built the flight between Bahrain and Dhahran in Saudi was the, or one of the, shortest scheduled jet flights in the world... 15minutes, and when I took it from takeoff to touchdown it was 8 minutes, and even then we took a rather non-direct route. The cabin crew still managed to serve all 100 passengers with a bricklet of orange juice and a biscuit/cookie, and collect the detritus up afterwards. Then we had to wait over an hour in an immigration queue, as we landed behind a Philippines 747 with about 350 guest workers, all of whom needed extensive paperwork processing.
nothing to say
written by jas , September 11, 2007
hi powh add u powh me
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written by SOS , September 11, 2007
i live near bahrain, i actually seen the towers a couple of times.
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written by SOS , September 11, 2007
Bahrain is a tiny island it on takes from 1 to 2 hours to drive a circle around it,It'll take longer on Saudi weekends because the traffics horrible.
World Trade Center
written by Vibeman , September 15, 2007
Just read some of the comments, and cannot believe how clueless some people are.
I just left Bahrain earlier this year after being there for the past year. the towers are still in construction and are a wonder to behold. They are constructed so that the wind is funneled in between the structures as in a venturi tube. The winds in Bahrain can get rather strong so the output of these turbines will definitely generate enough power for the buildings. 1. The towers are in the Kingdom of Bahrain, in the city of Manama. 2. Dubai is in the UAE. Nowhere close to Bahrain. 3. The building are very beautiful to look at. 4. Have to admit, Bahrain is not the most eco-friendly place in the world, but it is their country. Personally I cannot wait to be able to visit thier once again and see the buildings after completion. They are also building a financial district that wil be one of the most beautiful in the world after completion. Just my personal opinions and observations.
Just for peace of mind: to Jacques Matth
written by LastLoneWolf , December 10, 2007
I wrote "one turn per 3 seconds", not "3 turns per second". That's 9 times slower.
And, btw, claiming that 3t/s at 17m diam. results in 200 km/h is just briliant. That's 576 (non-existent) kmh. Never too late.
Some real losers commenting!
written by canchin , February 18, 2008
All props possible for Bahrain! Ignore the jealous that still live in backward countries of cement and steel boxes with the creativity barely above that needed for a dung beetle to roll up a ball! True inventiveness and I only wish more countries would get this inventive! Also, cheers for Atkins. Even though the turbines will only generate between 11% and 15% of the total electricity needed - it is a marvel and worthy of nothing but compliments...from anybody with a brain larger than that of a gnat of course. I'm sure the people of Bahrain will show it with pride to all visitors - as they should!
Director
written by nick , March 12, 2008
It is one of my favourite buildings in the middle east
Although I can't help but rain on Mr Killas parade and ask the question, with the eco friendliness of the design of the turbines, have you noticed how much glass they've used on the building? Loads!
prove your self wrong
written by radius , April 11, 2008
the bahrain world trade centre will be operational within months time. some of those smart asses that laugh on the technology and design of this structure will be marked as ignorants, as they don't know anything about architecture and renewable energy, let alone a thing about this project.
the designer started something that will ripple in the history. combining both science and art. much to our enjoyment, some feebles can comment without getting themselves educated on things like these. of course it'll be easier to do that than to study how these marvelous structures work. ;D
Chill out
written by Rafael Grillo , April 13, 2008
Relax, please, everyone! It's amazing how aggressive some people can get just commenting on a great engineering feat that I am sure everyone -including the designers- know is not perfect. I'd guess everyone reading this article is here for a direct interest in improving the planet, and yet, everyone seems ready the rip everybody else's heads off. OK, perhaps that is a bit exaggerated, but no need to insult others. If you have a point, make it. If you a comment, post it. But please, keep it civil.
Project Director
written by larsthor , August 02, 2008
I designed the turbines and it is true that some of you have a very limited knowledge about wind turbines and wind conditions in costal regions. Thanks to all of you who worte a comment and knew what they were talking about. The turbines are producing power, no it is not a waste of money and yes it is to some extend a wow effect but it will pay off. And by the way, there are more to come around the world. Once you made the first a lost of clients will follow, now that they have seen it is posible.
amazing..........
written by julius , September 08, 2008
if it is possible to erect smaller version of wind turbines (with small generators)in existing skyscrapers all around the world then it would reduce energy dependency in large scale... it can also be possible i think....... further this turbine technology need to part of common designs for the future skyscrapers too.........
i see this building everyday
written by clark , September 28, 2008
I see this building everyday on my way to office and never there was a chance that i didnt glance at it. Its pretty ambitious building with great pride and this building speaks for it self really something new everyday we get excited seeing this building being completed, however i just noticed that dust is this buildings worst enemy, here in bahrain a month is not complete without sand storm sometimes almost zero visibility, and i feel sorry for the spiderman cleaning those windows 40 to 50 degrees under the sun,imagine you just cleaned your living room and at your back you find your kid throwing things again a never ending story of cleaning.though BWTC is a good attempt to show to the world the ecological concerns that we have to deal today and bahrain is doin their part...
My thoughts. But hey, what does a girl
written by Sarah , November 03, 2008
It's not a waste of money if the returns exceed the installation and manufacturing costs, and there is benefit in more than just the area of finance and economic anyway. We have been trying to promote the sector of renewable energy for twenty years or more, and the fact that a site specific solution has been implemented can only act as a booster for the sector. Yes it may have come about as some sort of 'wow' factor, and yes it has been imlemented in an arab state as a result of higher levels of available funding, but surely the fact that this has occurred in a nation where oil and natural gas are the prime (only) sources of electricity generation serves as a strong message. Never mind the driver that Bahrain will soon lose it's status as a net exporter of oil :P They may not be huge wind turbines, but the slightly lower mean annual wind speed in Bahrain of about 4.7 m/s makes it more efficient to implement small scale wind turbines that provide elctricity at the site, rather than feeding not particularly grid compliant electricity into the network. It's not about the size boys, it's about being suitable for the application. And as for varying wind speeds and direction, it's taken into account during design, where estmated installed capacity is derived using statistics and long term wind data. I'm afraid most renewable sources are more appropriate at distribution rather than transmission level, which is the way forward. This design will help make people sit up and take notice, which is what our sector needs.
Beauty is in the Eye of of the Beholder
written by Ian Smith , November 08, 2008
Each to his own, I guess. I think the structure is a wonderful piece of architecture. And the turbines is a brilliant idea. Kudos to larsthor!
Why aren't they used?
written by Steve , November 29, 2008
I've been in Bahrain for 6 months. I don't drive by the building every day, but I have yet to see the turbines spinning. All of the conversation is interesting, but if the turbines aren't used, they just look a bit silly hanging there. Does anyone know if the turbines are being used? If not, why not? Lots of bluster - not much reality?
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