Researchers at Technion - Israel Institute of Technology claim they have created a conceptual power plant that could meet all of the globe’s energy needs… fifteen times over! It’s called the Energy Tower, and it uses the weight of cooled air to power generating turbines at the bottom of a tall tower. The air is cooled by water pumped to the top of the tower and released amidst air warmed by the sun. This reaction causes the newly cooled air to fall down the tunnel, allowing for the collection of power. Technically solar, certainly hybrid, and zero-pollution, if the concept translates into a working prototype it will be a major breakthrough, as it will be capable of producing power at less than present costs. It may also possibly operate to desalinate water, which is a generally expensive process as a byproduct of the power generating sequence.
Fred said,
April 3, 2008 @ 10:44 pm
This sounds almost like the Solar chimney that has been talked about for years. Can someone get me talking to these folks please? Great idea and definitely workable.
solarious said,
April 4, 2008 @ 12:00 am
As far as I can tell, the scientists involved in this project would fall under the direction of the man listed below at Technion. He’s the one quoted in the article as the project founder. Best of luck, and I hope that together you are able to help them get to the next phase. Our planet could really use a little good news like that!
Professor Dan Zaslavsky of the Department of Agricultural Engineering
Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty
email: agdanz@tx.technion.ac.il
tel: (To Call From Outside Dial 972-4-829-XXXX )
2746 / 8232319
fax: 3337
(Remember it’s in Israel, so whatever the calling codes are there apply)