World's Tallest Wind Turbine

Germany Builds World's Tallest Wind Turbine

The turbine comes with a water pump to generate power even when there's no wind.

Max Bögl Wind AG
 
By Avery Thompson

Germany, more than almost any other country, has been embracing wind power as the future of energy. The country is third in the world—behind only China and the United States—in total wind power and new wind power added each year, and recently broke a world record for the tallest wind turbine ever built.

The record-breaking turbine, part of a new installation in the town of Gaildorf, reaches an impressive 809 feet from the base to the tip of the blade. The other three turbines that are also part of this installation reach impressive heights as well, with the smallest standing over 500 feet tall.

For a wind turbine, height is everything. Higher altitudes mean stronger, more stable, and more consistent wind speeds, which translates both to more energy produced and fewer gaps in generation. These four newly-built turbines are expected to produce enough electricity to power over 1000 homes.

In case simply being the tallest turbines in the world wasn't enough, this installation also makes use of a new power storage technology. Or rather, a very old technology used in a new way. Each of these turbines has a water tank built into its base, and in moments where the turbines generate more power than the area needs, water can be pumped from a nearby reservoir uphill into the tanks.

In moments where power generation is low or when demand is exceptionally high, this water can be released to spin even more turbines and generate extra power. Using this method, these turbines successfully pair energy generation with energy storage, solving one of the bigger problems plaguing renewable energy sources like wind and solar.

With these new turbines and their complementary water storage, Germany is cementing its status as the wind capital of Europe. The country is still a long way from challenging the U.S. or China for wind dominance, but with more giant turbines like these ones that might not be true for long.