Did you know that the phrase ‘How Tall Are Wind Turbines’ is one of the leading prompts when starting with ‘How Tall …’ in some of the most prominent search engines? It has led to a frenzy of similarly named pages on websites worldwide, looking to draw visitors by promising the answer to this, apparently, pressing matter.
How Tall Are Wind Turbines?
And yes, I know this because I googled it. This also provided me with the (apparently) correct answer: the Haliade-X is the most powerful offshore wind turbine globally, with the 220-meter rotor, 107-meter blade, and the leading capacity factor (60-64%), and digital capabilities. Simultaneously, there is a reason for caution: this is the highest wind turbine 'now!'. You might see one in a backyard nearby that measures quite a bit less.
Photo by GE. The first Haliade-X turbine is headed to the Netherlands for testing.
Wind Turbines Are Getting Taller
A Vox article uploaded in May of 2019 (see below sources) was eager to show off a new type of wind turbine that had blades longer than football fields. Right now, in the early days of 2021, offshore wind turbines still prove to be all the rage, with wind turbine parks popping up left and right in oceans and seas. And, fun fact, they are growing taller than ever before.
Recommended: Solar Wind And Hydrogen Powers Modern Cargo Ships
Wind Turbines: The Math
Some quick math. In 1990, the average rotor diameter of a wind turbine was 40 meters or 466 feet. Over the years, this number has increased steadily: it already went up to 70 meters by 1995, then up to 80 meters by 2000, continuing to 120 meters by 2005, another increase to 126 meters by 2010, and settling on a meager 145 meters by 2015. For 2020, the numbers are not quite made up yet, although there is already one particular wind turbine known that measured 220 meters in rotor diameter. More about that giant later.
The average rotor diameter largely determines how much energy can be generated. However, I doubt this is what people are looking to find out when searching for ‘how tall are wind turbines.’ When it comes to pure height, numbers see them evolving from 50 meters back in 1995 to 100 meters by 2000, up to 150 meters by 2015, and getting somewhere near 175 meters in 2020.
Confusion About Wind Turbine Length
The fun fact is that I am seemingly unable to verify those numbers. The confusion seems to stem from the fact that new numbers are outdated as soon as another producer announces the ‘birth’ of a newer, greater, and even taller brainchild. For wind turbines, size does matter. After all, you want those babies to catch as much wind as possible, as high up in the atmosphere as possible - where the wind blows more steadily.
This is why even though some very credible publications have published articles on the ever-pressing topic of wind turbines' height, none of them seem to agree on the numbers. Some are much more prudent, putting both the average length and rotor diameter at a much lower number than given earlier. Others are more focused on the ‘extremes,’ so the frontrunners in the world’s race for the tallest wind turbine, or the one with the largest rotor diameter. This inevitably pushes the numbers up by quite some.
Recommended: Wind Turbines Cleaned By Drones
The World’s Tallest Wind Turbine
For instance, last December, the Daily Mail posted an article that looked into the wind turbines that are to be erected in front of the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, by 2023. This wind turbine park will feature 62 GE Haliade-X turbines slated to be the tallest ones thus far: standing tall at 260 meters or 853 feet, with the before mentioned rotor span of 220 meters or 722 feet.
This site has ‘em outgrowing such monuments like the London Eye and nearing the Chrysler Building at 319 meters or 1046 feet. Just imagine a couple of dozen of those giants hanging out together at sea, and one can only guess how impressive the sight would be. Probably impressive enough to warrant the search for ‘how tall are wind turbines’ - although I would now recommend against it. Its answers are more likely to confuse you and be outdated anyway in this never-ending race for height.
Cover photo Hans van der Broek
Source:
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Size-evolution-of-wind-turbines-over-time_fig1_221911675
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9027701/Worlds-largest-wind-turbines-measure-856ft-tall-built-near-Marthas-Vineyard-2023.html
https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2018/3/8/17084158/wind-turbine-power-energy-blades
Before you go!
Recommended: Windturbines More Efficient: A Telescopic Design
Do you like this article about Gravitricity, or do you have a question or remark? Leave a comment below. We try to respond the same day.
Like to write and publish your article about wind turbines?
Click on 'Register' or push the button 'Write An Article' on the 'HomePage.'