Although obstruction lighting on wind turbines is critical for safety, wind-farm owners and operators are looking for new ways to keep this necessary component cost effective. To do so, a growing trend is toward lights that consume little power, don't weight much, and are easy to install. Another trend is using lights that minimize the visual impact on the environment. Lastly, the light must operate in harsh conditions, so engineers are beefing-up fixtures with monitors to alert operators of problems. Ray Kraemer with TWR Lighting sees a trend in reducing the light pollution surrounding turbines. "Companies are focused on community-friendly designs with almost no light directed below the beacon's horizon," he explains. "Many are easy to install by on-site personnel." Furthermore, Kraemer says lighting fixtures are becoming more 'high-tech'. "Some designs now include a built-in power module, controller, and GPS synchronizer that makes the light simple to install and lets them operate reliably under harsh conditions," he says. "All this helps minimize capital costs and costs of ownership." Other designs also include a flash circuit and photocell.
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