An internation contest – featuring a €445,000 prize fund – is inviting architects, designers and engineers to create a ‘new look’ for wind turbinesThe two-stage ‘WinDesign’ competition – organised by Italian energy company Enel – seeks concepts for new wind farms which combine ‘functionality, aesthetics, innovation and sustainability.’ The call for concepts aims to identify a range of solutions to reduce the environmental impact of new wind turbines and to promote ‘harmony between infrastructure and landscape.’ A renewable energy development in the California Desert Credit: Image by Bureau of Land Management Attribution 2.0 Generic The contest – which is open to architects, designers, engineers, students and start-ups – comes amid rapid growth in alternative energy adoption with wind generation expected to surpass coal generation in Europe this year. According to the brief: ‘The wind energy market has experienced exponential growth in the last few decades, with thousands of wind turbines installed globally each year, helping the world to have safe, reliable and sustainable energy. ‘In this context, Enel intends to rethink the aesthetics of wind power plants through innovative solutions that combine functionality, design, innovation and sustainability in order to enhance the harmony between infrastructure and landscape, while reducing the environmental impact. ‘The proposed solutions must meet the criteria of increasing environmental and landscape integration, technical and functional feasibility, flexibility of use and economic sustainability.’ Headquartered in Rome, Enel is an Italian multinational manufacturer and distributor of electricity and gas. The company’s subsidiary, Enel Green Power, operates around 1,300 plants harnessing solar, geothermal, wind and hydropower sources around the world. The ‘WinDesign’ contest invites participants to rethink the aesthetics of wind power plants which are typically constructed using conical tubular steel towers supporting a generator in a nacelle with a hub and three or four rotor blades. A renewable energy development in the California Desert Credit: Image by Bureau of Land Management Attribution 2.0 Generic Submissions must meet the contest criteria of ‘increasing environmental and landscape integration, technical and functional feasibility, flexibility of use and economic sustainability.’ Concepts will need to have a rated power output of 5.5MW with a rotor diameter of 161m and a hub height of 98m. Teams selected to participate in the second round of the competition running frodm July to September will each receive a €5,000 honorarium. The overall winner – due to be announced on 10 November – will receive a €250,000 prize while a second prize of €150,000 and third prize €50,000 will also be awarded. Three special prizes worth €15,000 each for design, technical and economic feasibility, and innovation and sustainability will also be awarded. How to apply Deadline: 16 June Competition funding source: Not supplied Project funding source: Not supplied Owner of site: Not suppliedVisit the competition website for more information #competition #windesign #wind #turbines