That’s pretty impressive, even for the biggest and best of companies, and that’s exactly what German energy providers, Max Bogl AG and GE Renewable Energy are creating right now. One of the biggest problems for wind farms has always been that it is unable to generate energy without the wind, but by combining wind turbines with hydropower technology, it’s now completely possible. The guys and girls here are looking to have theirs in operation by 2018 and will be the first of its kind.
The way in which this renewable energy plant has been designed is to continue to generate power even at times where there is no wind. The turbines themselves stand at over 580 feet tall with the bases serving as a reservoir holding 1.6 million gallons of water while the wind farm itself is surrounded by a further 9 million gallons of water in another reservoir. The whole wind farm will have the ability to generate 13.6 megawatts of energy while the hydroelectric plant can generate 16 megawatts.
In order for the wind-hydro plant to work it must be located on a hill where water can flow down freely to generate hydro electricity. Then, the water is pumped back up the hill when the energy is no longer needed. By operating in this way continuous power is produced by the turbines. Cliff Harris, GE Renewable Energy onshore wind general manager, said “Germans in this area are known as tinkerers and inventors. So the mentality of this technology fits with the population. It’s a bit risky, and it can’t work everywhere. But the plant will run for several decades, and we expect the benefits will be felt over that time.” This will certainly help Germany achieve its goal of producing 45 percent of its energy from renewables energy by 2030 and could soon lead to much more being set up all across the globe.
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