In most, if not all, cases, the white color dominates the wind turbines. That’s why one would easily wonder about it.
Why are wind turbines white? Is it by default or by design?
It is not a coincidence that most wind turbines are white. On the contrary, there are various reasons why that’s the case.
Equally important, for other reasons, one may shy away from painting wind turbines white. It would be best to understand these reasons before painting yours.
So, Why Are Wind Turbines White?
There are several reasons the wind turbines are white. They include the following;
Avoid Overheating the Wind Turbines
Electricity generation, in this case, is when the turbines harness wind power. Their blades will spin whenever the wind blows; the motion is responsible for the electricity it generates.
In the process, the wind turbines are bound to become quite hot. One repercussion of the temperature change is the damage to these wind turbines.
That’s where the white color comes in. it prevents the wind turbines from overheating and damaging by reflecting any heat.
Prevents Other Heat Damages
The wind turbines are white to ensure they reflect as much heat as possible. Consequently, the turbines won’t overheat at any given time.
Besides producing heat when working, wind turbines are also exposed to sunlight. It is no secret that the sun is a major heat source, especially during hot days.
The white color will reduce the amount of heat that reaches the blades. It will reflect as much heat as possible and prevent the damages that overheating could cause.
That’s good news for the survival of your wind turbines. That’s especially true for most of its components, such as the blades.
It Promotes Efficiency
Thanks to the white color, the wind turbines always remain clean. Cleanliness plays a huge role in the efficiency of many things, and turbines are no exception.
So, ensure that you paint your wind turbines white for optimal efficiency. After all, everyone wants as much energy as possible.
It Prevents Rust
The white color also boosts the durability of your wind turbines by preventing rust. Rust is known for compromising metal objects’ longevity; rest assured that it won’t spare the turbines.
That’s because it will weaken its metal and increase the chances of breaking over time. You don’t want to keep repairing the turbines since it will cost you a lot of time, money, and effort.
Besides damage, rust can also adversely affect how well the wind turbines work. If it affects the rotor blades, its performance will be mediocre.
Fortunately, such outcomes are avoidable by using the white color. It will prevent rust, thus boosting its performance and durability.
UV Protection
Another reason wind turbines are often painted white is to protect the turbine’s materials from UV light degradation.
UV light can cause paintwork to blister and crack over time, resulting in regular, costly maintenance to prevent further damage.
It Improves Visibility
Regardless of how bad the weather gets, spotting a white wind turbine won’t be hard. Neither snow all over the ground nor low lighting will hinder its visibility.
As pilots fly their aircraft or plane, it is also important to spot a turbine easily. It is a law requirement put in place for security measures. Pilots must have a clear view of turbines while flying, and using white paint helps ensure compliance with these regulations.
To further enhance visibility, many wind turbines have red flashlights installed on them, especially those close to busy flight paths.
Can you imagine a scenario where one was to paint the wind turbines green? It will easily blend into the nearby grass, thus making it hard, if not impossible, for a pilot to spot it.
It could lead to an accident, thus causing property damage, injuries, or loss of lives.
Besides, the blue and white sky creates the best contrast to help one spot the turbine easily. That’s yet another reason why wind turbines are white.
Also, white seems to be the happy medium, the most hidden color that does not offend anyone.
It is Relatively Cheap
The less pigment used in white paint makes it cheap and affordable. Despite the less pigment, the result is excellent and helps the color reflect much light.
Similarly, its popularity makes many manufacturers make it in large quantities. The law of demand and supply also makes it cheap.
Its major ingredient is titanium dioxide. It is no secret that this pigment is cheap. Besides low initial cost, its maintenance is no different.
So, painting wind turbines white will save you considerable money. Isn’t that an advantage, given how expensive setting up a wind energy project can be?
Variations Between Regions
The color white is a color that several governments and wind energy companies have uniquely incorporated worldwide.
Wind turbines worldwide use this color as the standard for their turbines.
The difference between a few shades can communicate important navigational information to the navigator, which in turn can be used to determine what course of action is to be taken.
Wind turbines installed offshore are usually painted yellow on the bottom to stand out in the sea in the dark.
To be safe from passing ships, they must be made more visible to passing ships.
It would be difficult for sailors to spot the turbines if they were completely white in low visibility conditions.
Must Wind Turbines Be White?
The list of the benefits of painting your wind turbines white is long. From aircraft pilots to the general population, the white color is undeniably beneficial.
Despite the good side, it also has its demerits. They are often associated with animals and insects.
For instance, bright colors such as white attract insects. So, if you use white on your wind turbines, there is a high chance of attracting them.
Consequently, many insects will stay on it or near the turbines most of the time. Unfortunately, that puts them at risk of injuries and even death.
The common culprits are flying birds and animals such as a bat. Insects also suffer the same fate, leading to a need for other alternatives.
One of the considerations is the purple color. Since it isn’t as bright as yellow or white, it won’t attract animals, birds, and insects.
Besides easily grabbing their attention, there are other reasons why these species are attracted to the white turbines. It also reflects a lot of sunlight, and that’s a perfect definition of an oasis during hot days.
Consider painting it purple if you don’t want yours to attract them. Alternatively, you can choose gray, that’s not very different from white yet makes a huge difference.
Conclusion
Why are wind turbines white? Thanks to the above discussion, the reasons are now at your fingerprint.
The white color reflects sunlight and heat, thus avoiding any damage that could emanate from overheating. It also avoids damage and thus could lead to wear and tear.
For example, the white color prevents rusting, thus preventing it from compromising the turbine’s efficiency. It also prevents damage and enhances its durability.
Other benefits include improving visibility for the sake of people on the ground and above the sky.
However, the white color also has a share of demerits. They include attracting insects and birds, which often suffer injuries or meet their deaths.
That’s why it would be wise to consider other colors, such as purple and grey. They serve the purpose right without being too noticeable.
