Architecture

Light art meets renewable energy

Light art meets renewable energy
Windlicht joins neighboring wind turbines with light beams
Windlicht joins neighboring wind turbines with light beams
View 28 Images
Windlicht joins neighboring wind turbines with light beams
1/28
Windlicht joins neighboring wind turbines with light beams
Thermal cameras and sensors track the rotation of turbine blades
2/28
Thermal cameras and sensors track the rotation of turbine blades
The turbine blades rotate at up to 280 km/h (174 mph)
3/28
The turbine blades rotate at up to 280 km/h (174 mph)
Special software is used to combine data from the thermal cameras and sensors
4/28
Special software is used to combine data from the thermal cameras and sensors
Aiming and stabilization systems are used to shine an LED beam from the blade of one turbine to the blade of another
5/28
Aiming and stabilization systems are used to shine an LED beam from the blade of one turbine to the blade of another
The LED beams are able to remain targeted on the blades even as they rotate
6/28
The LED beams are able to remain targeted on the blades even as they rotate
Windlicht has the appearance of multiple skipping ropes being spun by the turbines
7/28
Windlicht has the appearance of multiple skipping ropes being spun by the turbines
"We wanted to add more poetry to the existing windmills; to add more play and dance to the Dutch landscape," Sylvie Londerman of Studio Roosegaarde tells Gizmag
8/28
"We wanted to add more poetry to the existing windmills; to add more play and dance to the Dutch landscape," Sylvie Londerman of Studio Roosegaarde tells Gizmag
Windlicht creates a "dance of bright lines" above the landscape
9/28
Windlicht creates a "dance of bright lines" above the landscape
Windlicht seeks to show the beauty of green energy
10/28
Windlicht seeks to show the beauty of green energy
Windlicht suggests that things can be done to give green energy infrastructure greater allure
11/28
Windlicht suggests that things can be done to give green energy infrastructure greater allure
Windlicht is aimed at showing that the landscape need not be visually damaged by turbines
12/28
Windlicht is aimed at showing that the landscape need not be visually damaged by turbines
Windlicht combines the respective environmental and light installation elements of Studio Roosegaarde's Smog Free Tower and Waterlicht projects
13/28
Windlicht combines the respective environmental and light installation elements of Studio Roosegaarde's Smog Free Tower and Waterlicht projects
Windlicht is intalled at the Eneco wind farm in the town of St. Annaland
14/28
Windlicht is intalled at the Eneco wind farm in the town of St. Annaland
Windlicht joins neighboring wind turbines with light beams
15/28
Windlicht joins neighboring wind turbines with light beams
Thermal cameras and sensors track the rotation of turbine blades
16/28
Thermal cameras and sensors track the rotation of turbine blades
The turbine blades rotate at up to 280 km/h (174 mph)
17/28
The turbine blades rotate at up to 280 km/h (174 mph)
Special software is used to combine data from the thermal cameras and sensors
18/28
Special software is used to combine data from the thermal cameras and sensors
Aiming and stabilization systems are used to shine an LED beam from the blade of one turbine to the blade of another
19/28
Aiming and stabilization systems are used to shine an LED beam from the blade of one turbine to the blade of another
The LED beams are able to remain targeted on the blades even as they rotate
20/28
The LED beams are able to remain targeted on the blades even as they rotate
Windlicht has the appearance of multiple skipping ropes being spun by the turbines
21/28
Windlicht has the appearance of multiple skipping ropes being spun by the turbines
"We wanted to add more poetry to the existing windmills; to add more play and dance to the Dutch landscape," Sylvie Londerman of Studio Roosegaarde tells Gizmag
22/28
"We wanted to add more poetry to the existing windmills; to add more play and dance to the Dutch landscape," Sylvie Londerman of Studio Roosegaarde tells Gizmag
Windlicht creates a "dance of bright lines" above the landscape
23/28
Windlicht creates a "dance of bright lines" above the landscape
Windlicht seeks to show the beauty of green energy
24/28
Windlicht seeks to show the beauty of green energy
Windlicht suggests that things can be done to give green energy infrastructure greater allure
25/28
Windlicht suggests that things can be done to give green energy infrastructure greater allure
Windlicht is aimed at showing that the landscape need not be visually damaged by turbines
26/28
Windlicht is aimed at showing that the landscape need not be visually damaged by turbines
Windlicht combines the respective environmental and light installation elements of Studio Roosegaarde's Smog Free Tower and Waterlicht projects
27/28
Windlicht combines the respective environmental and light installation elements of Studio Roosegaarde's Smog Free Tower and Waterlicht projects
Windlicht is intalled at the Eneco wind farm in the town of St. Annaland
28/28
Windlicht is intalled at the Eneco wind farm in the town of St. Annaland
View gallery - 28 images

The prolific Studio Roosegaarde has followed its Smog Free Tower and Waterlicht projects with a work that combines their respective environmental and light installation elements. Windlicht seeks to show the beauty of green energy by linking the blades of neighboring wind turbines with LED beams.

Studio Roosegaarde postulates that, while everyone wants green energy, few want the infrastructure in their backyard. Windlicht suggests that things can be done to give such infrastructure greater allure.

Inspired by Kinderdijk, a Dutch town in which a series of windmills dating back to 1740 were built to pump water out of low-lying land, studio founder Daan Roosegaarde conceived of a series of joined turbines that would likewise interact with their environment. By installing LED and tracking technology on turbine blades, a "dance of bright lines" could be created above the landscape that many people feel suffers visually as a result of the turbines.

Studio Roosegaarde won't divulge exactly how the system works, but says that special software is used to combine data from thermal cameras and sensors that track the 280 km/h (174 mph) rotation of turbine blades with LED aiming and stabilization systems. In this way, an LED beam from the blade of one turbine can be shone onto the blade of another and remain targeted on it as it rotates.

Windlicht suggests that things can be done to give green energy infrastructure greater allure
Windlicht suggests that things can be done to give green energy infrastructure greater allure

In series, the result has the appearance of multiple skipping ropes being spun by the turbines. "We wanted to add more poetry to the existing windmills; to add more play and dance to the Dutch landscape," Sylvie Londerman of Studio Roosegaarde tells Gizmag.

Windlicht can be viewed for free on the 18-19th of March at the Eneco wind farm in the town of St. Annaland.

The video below provides a look at the Windlicht installation in action.

Source: Studio Roosegaarde

WINDLICHT by Daan Roosegaarde [OFFICIAL MOVIE]

View gallery - 28 images
6 comments
6 comments
BradShoulders
Looks like light pollution to me.
XavierAndresMatamoros
But, isn't the power consumption of the lasers high? If so the clean energy that would have been produced by the turbines is being wasted on the lasers.
JweenyPwee
"I just wish they weren't such an eyesore, but at least we can't see them at night."
We heard you guys like eyesores and want to see them at night also......
"That's not what we..."
TOO LATE
JayLomas
Xavier, the power consumption of those lasers is a few watts each, maximum. I'm guessing more like 1 watt each. Even then, I'm kind of surprised that they aren't burning the blades by training on one specific spot of one blade.
Readout Noise
How do you destroy a green energy project? By adding a terrible and completely unnecessary level of light pollution!
This was an appalling idea, which should have been strangled at birth. Shame on you, Studio Roosegaarde. Shame.
unklmurray
I'm having a hard time believing what you Naysayers, are coming up with, 1st of all the Green ''Laser'' Lights only use about 1.5volts & about .005watts each 2ndly Green Laser Lights produce NO heat........ 3rdly Green Lasers do NOT cut!!....... 4rth if it is an ''eyesore'',we can put your eyes out for you'' ''LOOK SOMEWHERE ELSE'' no one is trying to force you to look at the pretty Green lights!!..........LOL :-)