Massive Solar Updraft Towers Planned For Arizona

MikeChino writes "Australia-based EnviroMission Ltd recently announced plans to build two solar updraft towers that span hundreds of acres in La Paz County, Arizona. Solar updraft technology sounds promising enough: generate hot air with a giant greenhouse, channel the air into a chimney-like device, and let the warm wind turn a wind turbine to produce energy. The scale of the devices would be staggering — each plant would consist of a 2,400 foot chimney over a greenhouse measuring four square miles. The Southern California Public Power Authority has approved EnviroMission as a provider, although there’s still plenty of work to be done before the $750 million, 200 megawatt project can begin."

Comments

Re:$750 million for 200 MW?

[tetrahedrassface]

When the sun isn't shining they can just let all the "World is ending, we must protect Gaia, and Global Warming will eat your baby" types in there. The hot air off of a few hundred of them surely is enough to drive the turbine. Maybe they can clone 'Fesser Gore. Three Al Gores would make plenty of hot air to run the thing at night, and when the sun isn't shining.

:)