It may be one of the most audacious proposals for creating a tourism attraction to come down the pike in some time.
But the Dutch Windwheel Corporation believes if it is successful, it's proposed state-of-the-art "Windwheel" will become a not only a winning energy producer, but also an iconic showcase for Dutch clean-energy technology.
What's certain is that even on paper, it's a mind-blower.
The design, which the corporation wants to build in Rotterdam, consists of two of three-dimensional rings with a light, open steel and glass construction, and because the foundation is underwater, it looks as if Windwheel is floating.
Backers of the proposal say the double ring construction offers a diversity of functions. The outer ring will house 40 rotating cabins on a rail system (essentially very unique, giant roller coaster), while the inner ring is an bladeless windmill housing a top class panorama restaurant, sky lobby and hotel, apartments and commercial functions in the plinth.
They go on to say one of the innovations they believe can be developed with the Windwheel is electrostatic wind energy converter technology.
This technology was developed by a consortium including the TU Delft and Wageningen University in the context of government innovation program. Basically, the backers will rely on a turbine that converts wind energy with a framework of steel tubes into electricity without moving mechanical parts.
The result, they say, is abundant energy produced with less wear, lower maintenance costs and no noise or moving shadow.
The company says based on current tourism statistics for the Netherlands and Rotterdam, the Dutch Windwheel will easily attract about 1.5 million tourist visits a year, ensuring the development will be profitable in a about a decade.
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