Solar Tower Land Purchase - 02/14/08 10:18 PM
I am so pleased that this unique Australian alternative energy project is to finally go ahead.
At last this new form of green energy has taken a significant step with the purchase of a 25,000-acre sheep farm in the Australian outback. Thats enough land to put up the Worlds tallest thermal Power Station.
When built at 1-kilometer (3,280-feet) it will be nearly double the height of any of the world's tallest buildings.
I was impressed back in 2002, when I first read about it, not only because of its simplicity, but also its total enviromental 'green cleaness'.
The Solar Tower is hollow in the middle like a chimney. At its base is a glass collector -- a 25,000-acre, transparent circular skirt. The air under the collector is heated by the sun and funneled up the chimney by convection -- hot air rises. As it rises, the air accelerates to 35 mph, driving wind turbines within the tower, which generate electricity much like conventional wind farms.
A small 50 kW prototype has been operating in Spain for 7 years.
This Australian larger version will generate 200MW, sufficient to power more than 200.000 homes.
If you think this tower is tall, there is a Chinese half-mile-tall version in the works. To be built by the Chinese construction Co. Xiang Jiang Industrial.
They came across a press mention of the Australian project a few years ago, and have now become the second largest Australian shareholder.
http://www.reuk.co.uk/200MW-Solar-Tower.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLIiGTZxH5s (Commercial Video)
