Wind Turbine Becomes Colossal LED Christmas Decoration

[n2doc]

by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 12.24.09



After a year of engineering, modeling, and trials, the world's largest Christmas star now hovers above the A9 Autobahn near Munich's northern gateway. Affixed to the three blades of the massive wind turbine--70-meters tip to tip--are 9,000 light-emitting diodes (LEDs), all of which use less power than a hairdryer.
The surreal pinwheel is a collaboration between Siemens, a world leader is wind power, and multi-media artist Michael Pendry.
We've seen LEDs used in similar fashion to create patterns and imagery (go Pac-Man!), but this is, well, way big.
(more pics and a video after the jump)

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/12/wind-turbine-becomes-worlds-largest-led-christmas-star.php?smid=FBTRH-FBS-ART

[Hekate]

1. Waaaay cool.

:wow:

[valerief]

3. My words exactly!!! Gazowie. nt

[Ian David]

2. I want to stand at Ted Kennedy's house and watch hundreds of wind turbines lit-up like this! n/t

[Lochloosa]

4. Go to the site and watch the video....waaaay cool

[progressoid]

5. Yeah. Waaaay cool! n/t

[tridim]

6. I've wanted to do something similar since I was about 10.

But I always wanted to just swing loose strands of lights via centrifugal force instead of mounting them on blades. Just emailed this to my family who knows all about my long-time idea. :)