Green Power Island: a blue battery for green energy

In the lecture series “DOBBELT OP" ("DOUBLE UP") running at DAC over spring 2011, the focus on the 28th of March was on an innovative collaboration between the creative architect branch and a research and educational institution, respectively, Gottlieb Paludan and Risø DTU, the National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy at the Technical University of Denmark - DTU.

DAC's "DOBBELT OP" lectures are about architecture and synergies between disciplines and technologies. Architect Jesper Gottlieb, partner of Gottlieb Paludan Architects, and Allan Schrøder Pedersen, Head of Programme at Risø were invited to give their take on the perspectives of interdisciplinary cooperation.

"Green Power Island reflects an ambition to exploit the full range of architectural skills and to participate actively in shaping the world's green future. The project resonates far beyond the country's borders and has led to new collaborations both in Denmark and internationally. This is not least due to the fruitful collaboration with researchers from Risø DTU. "

- Jesper Gottlieb from Gottlieb Paludan.

Greater propragation of renewable energy sources, requires efficient, stable and secure supply. While, for instance, the sun and wind can be challenging to regulate in relation to demand, there are quite different perspectives with hydro technology, since seawater is a plentiful and readily available resource. In practice this means that a huge pool with sea water can be drained through pumps driven by excess wind and solar energy produced while demand is low, for example at night. When demand rises again, the seawater is led back through the turbines, regenerating up to 80% of the energy that was required to drain the pond. Solar and wind farms can be combined with "energy islands" to reduce the imbalance between energy demand and production.

Additionally, synergy may be incorporated by involving local business, traffic or nature. By combining energy islands with activities related to urban environment and the existing topography, there is value added to the community, while ensuring the financing of a Green Island Project. For the architects the collaboration with a  knowledge institution has been really positive. Collaboration has resulted in a specific project, which actually corresponds to a real need that is in demand. For Risø DTU the architectural input has been eye opening in a new way, for example, with regard to the architects' idea of expanding with algae and mussel cultivation as well as a photovoltaic solar panels and wind turbines site.

“The Architects adds value by contributing with shaping and being able to "bake more into the cake".

- Jesper Gottlieb from Gottlieb Paludan.

In January, the parties got the “Årets Lille Arne” for the vision about the project and for facilitating collaboration between architects and other natural science-intensive professions. The prize is awarded by the Architectural Association's Copenhagen branch, which states:

"In our eternal debate on the world's energy consumption Green Power Island has managed to create and in a simple way convey a project that optimizes the use of environmentally friendly energy - which is also integrated into a workable architectural whole. The award is given to the project for its simple innovative impact strength and for the important collaboration between engineer and architect. "

Three examples were given at today's event: a Danish project in Kattegat, a projekt in Bay of Manama in Bahrain and a project in Jiangsu outside Shanghai in China. For more examples and more detailed explanation, see the project website and see the brochure which can be downloaded here. There is still some way to go, before profit shows up, but the cooperation is a first step. Both parties see many opportunities, as yet untested - and the project is in constant development.

Get detailed explanations, including links and video on the project website.