Bahrain World Trade Center: The energy-saving skyscraper

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The Bahrain World Trade Center (BWTC) is one of the world's most famous architectures which is located in Manama, Bahrain. It is also the world's first commercial building with three large-scale wind turbines.

The architects of the iconic building were inspired by traditional Arabian "wind towers," the idea which is successfully reflected in this skyscraper.

The BWTC is well known for its practical value as its giant wind turbines power the building's grids.

Bahrain World Trade Center, Manama, Bahrain, July 19, 2008. /VCG Photo

A general view shows the Bahrain's capital, Manama, February 10, 2016. /VCG Photo

Bahrain World Trade Center is seen before its lights are turned off during the Earth Hour event organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to draw attention to global climate change in Manama, Bahrain, March 19, 2016. /VCG Photo

As the BWTC uses wind energy harnessed by three turbines, they can fulfill 11-15 percent of the office tower's electricity needs that is equivalent to lightning around 200- 250 homes for a year.

In Bahrain, the government is continuously making efforts to integrate more renewable energy to develop the country's energy mix. It aims to achieve five percent of the country's electricity generation from renewable energy resources by 2030.

As the representative of the energy saving architecture, BWTC also plays its role in raising global awareness for sustainable design.

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(Cover image by Fan Chenxiao)