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Original poster

Isn't it difficult to imagine just how big a wind turbine is?

49 replies

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 28/10/2018 09:46

I know they're huge, but it's so difficult to get a sense of scale, because they're generally so far away. But we've just passed one next to a pylon and you can see just how enormous they must be!

DP is rolling his eyes at me, and has just pointed out that there are no toddlers in the car so I don't have to point out wind turbines and helicopters and horses boring man, so I thought I'd share that with you all instead!

OP posts:
justchangingagain · 28/10/2018 12:31

Ours is 20.50 metres without the blades and 27 when the blades are added. Now where near as big as the industrial ones at wind farms.

PrincessWire · 28/10/2018 12:37

They are mahoosive and imo strangely beautiful.

Racecardriver · 28/10/2018 12:52

You’ve lead a sheltered life haven’t you?. Did you also know that they come in different sizes? I hate standing underneath them, if you lookup it really seem likev Hey are about to topple over.

WakeUpFromYourDreamAndScream · 28/10/2018 13:12

I'm petrified of them and have to close my eyes as we pass them! They are far to big and scary

WakeUpFromYourDreamAndScream · 28/10/2018 13:12

Too*

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 28/10/2018 13:19

I hate standing underneath them

I'm the opposite - I love standing under the blades with that amazing nose as it comes towards you. From a distance it always looks like the blades move so slowly, but when you are underneath you can really see the how fast the blade tips go.

WhoGivesADamnForAFlakeyBandit · 28/10/2018 13:56

Donkeys years ago we took a special detour on the way back from holiday to go to an experimental wind farm that had loads of different types and shapes of wind turbine. Mainly because my father had something to do with some software for them but also because he likes that sort of thing anyway. So we got things spend the afternoon walking around very close up - trying to find 'his' turbine. There were ones with 2 blades, 3, H shaped ones, big ones, small ones. I think they look majestic.

AGHHHH · 28/10/2018 15:19

@soulrider I think it's extremely obvious that the OP is talking about big ones...

Original poster
PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 28/10/2018 23:25

Racecar sheltered in that there's very little wind where I'm from! I looked at a map of wind turbines in the UK and there are none close to me.

It's only because we're away that I could see them today.

That picture of the one in the square in Hull is jaw-dropping!

OP posts:
safariboot · 28/10/2018 23:30

Supposedly the bigger and taller they are the more efficiently they turn the wind to power.

I think they look alright, but then I live in a city nowhere near any.

SquishySquirmy · 28/10/2018 23:35

They can be massive!
They do vary in size a lot, and it's quite hard to tell how big they are when seen fro m a distance because it's not always clear how far away they are.

There's soms huge new ones just off the coast of Aberdeen, and they look big but unless you see a ship next to them for scale it's impossible to tell quite how huge they are!
I think each blade is the diameter of the London eye or something.

I love them. Especially when there's a low mist... It looks like they are floating.

MrsMoastyToasty · 28/10/2018 23:49

I know someone whose job was maintenance of offshore wind turbines. He spent most of his time waiting onshore for the right sea and weather conditions than the maintenance job itself.

BleakBetty · 28/10/2018 23:56

@WakeUpFromYourDreamAndScream I am also terrified of them! The sheer size and unnaturalness of them frightens me. Looking at them (even from a relative distance) makes me feel sick and uneasy.

MargotLovedTom1 · 28/10/2018 23:59

They unnerve me. I can see the benefit of them obviously, but they're just sinister.

GlassOuijan · 29/10/2018 07:05

Oh I like wind turbines, but always struggle to get a sense of size and scale with them. Im never sure how big they are.

That video of the man sunbathing g made me feel dick!

GlassOuijan · 29/10/2018 07:05

Oh gosh, make that sick Blush

Heismyopendoor · 29/10/2018 07:06

We love near a wind farm with over 200 turbines and every time we go I’m still amazed at the size of them :)

sandgrown · 29/10/2018 07:12

We have a large offshore wind farm near us. We passed fairly close on a ferry and they are huge .

TroysMammy · 29/10/2018 07:13

I assume they can be turned off. Only asking because I've seen a few together and the blades of one may not be rotating.

hiddenmnetter · 29/10/2018 07:14

The blades of the standard 1.5gwh turbines are moving at a terrific speed. Each blade is roughly 30m long. They complete a rotation roughly every 3 seconds. So if C=PiD then that’s 60x3.141=188.46m/3sc or 62.82m/s, or 226km/h at the tip of the blade. No wonder they decimate bird life...

Saymaname · 29/10/2018 07:16

I’ve driven passed a blade too, huge

Heismyopendoor · 29/10/2018 07:16

Yes Troy they can be turned on or off and the whole head bit can be rotated too.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 29/10/2018 07:22

They’re not so good for birds...

That Carbon Brief piece you posted is very positive about turbines and birds...

Also,

www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/our-positions-and-casework/our-positions/climate-change/action-to-tackle-climate-change/uk-energy-policy/wind-farms

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