It's so crazy it might just work?

Question

To the following Haiku/statement, say whether or not you agree or disagree, and why?:

"A disused lighthouse
Is a wind power turbine
Waiting to happen."

Disused lighthouses are often out of the way of towns and can take advantage of the full force of the coastal winds, plus they're structurally similar to windmills anyway.

I'm sure there are many engineering and planning issues in converting lighthouses to wind turbines, but is this idea even a little bit viable? I'd love to see it happen!

There's even a scientist who's working on a high-altitude wind power kite! True story.

Answer 1

There are a few problems with this idea...

Firstly, I completely agree with 'Kender_fury' - the structure of the lighthouse was not designed for, and therefore will not be able to cope with, the forces exerted on it by the addition of a wind turbine. It would simply collapse in a big heap when the first strong wind blew.

Secondly, and far more importantly, both you and 'kerfitz' are *grossly* overestimating the electricity output of a single turbine. Converting the handful of disused lighthouses around the country, or "a windmill platfor mwith three or four generators" is going to be almost no use at all in the big scheme of thing.

Remember, you would need a wind farm the size of Greater Manchester to match the output of a single nuclear power station. Oh, and remember also, that if the wind doesn't blow, you don't a single watt!

So no, it won't work.

Sorry. :(

Answer 2

Actually a single generator would not provide enough power for the community around it......on the other hand a windmill platfor mwith three or four generators just over the horizon would not spoil the view, would provide enough power for a small town and would be as, if not more, advantageous than your lighthouse design

Answer 3

A light house is made to be tower and only withstand as much wind ( and sheering force ) as it's own body would generate. Mounting massive blades on a light house would add many new forces, horizontal and torque, that the original lighthouse was not built to withstand.

Answer 4

Totally crazy!