6,650 Beacon Wind Turbines proposed for London

20 June 2007

Marks Barfield Architects, XCO2 and Price Myers have designed a visionary new form of urban wind turbine called the Beacon. Designed in response to tackling climate change, the Beacon's 40 metre high Y-shaped structure will harness energy from the strong breezes from all directions above the city’s rooftops, with minimal visual impact on the skyline. The Beacon's structure supports five vertical 'triple-helix' quietrevolution QR5 wind turbines, each five metres high, three metres in diameter and designed to achieve ultra-quiet operation and more efficient utilisation of urban winds. The QR5 differs from a horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) in that it doesn't need to change its orientation to track the wind. Robert Webb, XCO2 managing director argues "We've done some modelling using real wind data that predicts we'll be about 30 per cent better in terms of energy output than an equivalent-size propeller-type turbine."

Each Beacon would generate over 50,000kWh/yr, and be connected directly into the local distribution grid to service local homes and businesses generating power in the city for the city. Each Beacon will generate enough electricity to power twenty-five energy-efficient houses. In addition, each beacon will save around 21,000kg of carbon dioxide emissions every year.

Marks Barfield, XCO2 and Price Myers are proposing 6,650 Beacon wind turbines for London as an efficient means to meet 50 per cent of the Mayor’s target of 665 GWh/year to be provided from renewable sources. Marks Barfield propose that 600 beacons could be installed along the length of the Thames, 1,800 around the M25, and 4,170 along the 580km of major roads that Transport for London is responsible for in the capital. That's four for every square kilometre or one for every 24 hectares - by way of comparison, there are 19,000 bus stops in London. Marks Barfield plans to install 6,600 wind turbines in London in time for the 2012 Olympics. At a cost of £100,000-150,000 per turbine, the total cost would be less than 10 per cent of the cost of the Olympics.

The Beacon is a new form of generating clean renewable energy locally in urban areas. David Marks of Marks Barfield says, "The Victorians got it right when they decided to build their power plants in the centres of cities, because that's where the power is required … they only moved them out of the city because it's a dirty technology. But wind really is clean and city centre turbines would avoid the fantastic losses in energy production and transmission that you get with remote generation." He adds "Wind energy is one of the best forms of renewables around. We believe cities like London should take much greater responsibility for their own energy generation."

A decision to install the Beacon across London hasn't been made yet but the Beacon is ready for deployment. David Marks argues that "This is something that needs to be done … everyone agrees it needs to be done, and it can be done. We can do it – let's get on with it."