Structural stability of concrete wind turbines and solar chimney towers exposed to dynamic wind action

Apart from burning classical fossil resources or generating nuclear power, alternatives have been developed, like the classical ways to capture energy from wind, water and sun, or the innovative solar chimney concept.The paper presents some structural aspects of classical wind energy turbines, like their high-cycle dynamic loading and reaction as well as their fatigue behaviour. Actual research results concerning pre-stressed concrete tower constructions for wind turbines will be focused on. For the solar chimney concept the structural challenges concerning wind action, eigenfrequencies, stiffening and shape optimization with special focus on the inlet guide vanes will be discussed. Both classical wind turbines and the innovative solar chimney concept may successfully contribute to the future energy supply in Southern Africa.