Can Solar Chimneys be a part of renewable energy?
This is some of the most interesting news I've seen in a bit. You have in Arizona a plan to build two of the tallest man made constructions on Earth. No kidding. This from a man named Roger Davey. Roger is from Australia and is CEO of EnvironMission Ltd. He recently visited Phoenix for the purpose of this magnificent erection.
If you are in La Paz county, Arizona, you could find this fine company developing the engineering for two of their solar-powered plants. These plants will be the first of their kind.
I have read how the company already has an agreement to sell power to the ten municipal utilities in the Southern California Public Power Authority from their first solar tower.
You will find a four square mile greenhouse in the power plant in order to heat air and direct the heated air to a tall chimney. This chimney is a spectacular 2,400 feet tall and made of solid concrete.
The hot air will ascend up through the chimney and it will spin the turbines in order to make electricity. This is a very similar process to how the turbines in hydroelectric dams on giant rivers make electricity. Water drives the turbines, or in this case hot air drives the turbines. In either case the electricity is generated as the turbines are powered and the blades move.
If the reader remembers, this concept was tested in Spain back in the 1980's. So greenhouse and chimney is not a new idea.
The company plans each tower to have a capacity of 200 megawatts. This amount of watts would probably be sufficient for about fifty thousand houses.
One big difference in this project is that it will continue to generate power after dark. The greenhouse will have a plastic ceiling, enabling the greenhouse to stay warm and continue to make hot air long after sunset.
Here's the fun part. The construction cost of the first tower is estimated to be in the neighborhood of $750 million. The big benefit is commercial electrical power generation without using water and without creating pollution. They are hoping for investors to pony that up.
Roger Davey did not seem at all concerned about the amount of funds necessary for construction. Other Arizona projects, solar or otherwise, have had trouble raising the capital.
We shall see.
Renewable energy is a necessary part of our future, whether we want that to be the case or not.
Many of us realize that we will have to make plans for our family if we are to be sure that they will be provided for.
Make your choice and or take your chances. The energy transition is looming and I suspect it won't be pretty.
Energy salvation will be when we working stiffs have enough energy, alternative or otherwise, to take care of our families.
Perhaps you feel our blessed government really cares about you and will take care of it. Or maybe they won't.
Don't believe it? Fine.
Hide and watch.
Jim
Jimmy writes a home power generation review web site. He is interested in what works and what scams are out there. Write him with your thoughts and observations at: greenjim@juno.com See his review web site at: http://homepowergeneration.info Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J_Cosmos |
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