Comments on: EnviroMission Plans Massive Solar Updraft Towers for Arizona http://inhabitat.com/enviromission-plans-massive-solar-updraft-towers-for-arizona/ Green design & eco innovation for a better world Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:10:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Naem Alshammari http://inhabitat.com/enviromission-plans-massive-solar-updraft-towers-for-arizona/comment-page-1/#comment-261448 Naem Alshammari Fri, 01 Oct 2010 19:55:39 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=78846#comment-261448 HI I am advisory electrical engineer Naem Alshammari from Iraq / Baghdad . I am the owner and general director of SOHOL ALFAIDH Co. Its speciality in renewable energy and desert agriculture projects . I see that the solar tower technology is ideal for Iraqi area . I hope we shall cooperate soon . Best Regards Advisory Electrical Engineer Naem Alshammari HI
I am advisory electrical engineer Naem Alshammari from Iraq / Baghdad .
I am the owner and general director of SOHOL ALFAIDH Co. Its speciality in renewable energy and desert agriculture projects .
I see that the solar tower technology is ideal for Iraqi area .
I hope we shall cooperate soon .

Best Regards
Advisory Electrical Engineer
Naem Alshammari

]]> By: SOHOL ALFAIDH Co. http://inhabitat.com/enviromission-plans-massive-solar-updraft-towers-for-arizona/comment-page-1/#comment-261432 SOHOL ALFAIDH Co. Fri, 01 Oct 2010 19:02:51 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=78846#comment-261432 I am advisory electrical engineer Naem Alshammari from Iraq / Baghdad . I am the owner & general director of SOHOL ALFAIDH Co. Its speciality in renewable energy & desert agriculture projects . I see that the solar tower technology is ideal for Iraqi area . I hope we can cooperat soon . Best Regards Naem Alshammari I am advisory electrical engineer Naem Alshammari from Iraq / Baghdad .
I am the owner & general director of SOHOL ALFAIDH Co. Its speciality in renewable energy & desert agriculture projects .
I see that the solar tower technology is ideal for Iraqi area .
I hope we can cooperat soon .
Best Regards
Naem Alshammari

]]> By: ckofaz http://inhabitat.com/enviromission-plans-massive-solar-updraft-towers-for-arizona/comment-page-1/#comment-204466 ckofaz Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:50:15 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=78846#comment-204466 I live in Phx as well and just for reference, Piestewa Peak's (formely Squaw Peak) Elevation is 2,608 feet high. Its hard to fathom a building of those dementions. I live in Phx as well and just for reference, Piestewa Peak’s (formely Squaw Peak) Elevation is 2,608 feet high. Its hard to fathom a building of those dementions.

]]> By: Bill Mothershead http://inhabitat.com/enviromission-plans-massive-solar-updraft-towers-for-arizona/comment-page-1/#comment-204204 Bill Mothershead Sat, 09 Jan 2010 16:15:34 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=78846#comment-204204 I live just outside of Phoenix, Before getting too excited, how about building a scaled down version of just the "tower" to check out the durability of the design...can it survive a full summer's worth of wind storms. Have you ever seen an Arizona monsoon dust storm? Lots of energy. A half mile high, self-supporting tower seems a little improbable in this environment. I live just outside of Phoenix,

Before getting too excited, how about building a scaled down version of
just the “tower” to check out the durability of the design…can it survive
a full summer’s worth of wind storms.

Have you ever seen an Arizona monsoon dust storm? Lots of energy.

A half mile high, self-supporting tower seems a little improbable in this environment.

]]> By: netdrakh http://inhabitat.com/enviromission-plans-massive-solar-updraft-towers-for-arizona/comment-page-1/#comment-204054 netdrakh Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:03:59 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=78846#comment-204054 This has two similar problems to covering multi thousands of acres with photovoltaic panels: 1) Who is going to clean the dust off the surfaces? 2) When something falls out of the sky (rock, airplane, old satellite) things will break. Could be lots of broken stuff.... This has two similar problems to covering multi thousands of acres with photovoltaic panels:
1) Who is going to clean the dust off the surfaces?
2) When something falls out of the sky (rock, airplane, old satellite) things will break. Could be lots of broken stuff….

]]> By: wagnert in atlanta http://inhabitat.com/enviromission-plans-massive-solar-updraft-towers-for-arizona/comment-page-1/#comment-204012 wagnert in atlanta Fri, 08 Jan 2010 01:50:46 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=78846#comment-204012 This idea was tried out in Colorado Springs, CO in the 1890's, less the 4-square-mile greenhouse. A standard brick industrial chimney was built and a wind turbine installed in the base. The sun heating the chimney was supposed to draw air through the wind turbine and generate electricity. It didn't work. The chimney was still standing twenty years ago. This idea was tried out in Colorado Springs, CO in the 1890′s, less the 4-square-mile greenhouse. A standard brick industrial chimney was built and a wind turbine installed in the base. The sun heating the chimney was supposed to draw air through the wind turbine and generate electricity. It didn’t work. The chimney was still standing twenty years ago.

]]> By: Corky Boyd http://inhabitat.com/enviromission-plans-massive-solar-updraft-towers-for-arizona/comment-page-1/#comment-204003 Corky Boyd Fri, 08 Jan 2010 01:06:40 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=78846#comment-204003 Something like this was proposed in the 1970's. The layout was a bit different, but the turbine portion looked more like the well known wasp waisted nuclear plant cooling towers. It never went very far as the price and reliability of oil supplies got better. One of the worries was the high velocity of the heated air at the constricted portion of the tower (to drive the turbine) posed a threat to aviation. Something like this was proposed in the 1970′s.

The layout was a bit different, but the turbine portion looked more like the well known wasp waisted nuclear plant cooling towers. It never went very far as the price and reliability of oil supplies got better. One of the worries was the high velocity of the heated air at the constricted portion of the tower (to drive the turbine) posed a threat to aviation.

]]> By: pfdietz http://inhabitat.com/enviromission-plans-massive-solar-updraft-towers-for-arizona/comment-page-1/#comment-203985 pfdietz Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:31:49 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=78846#comment-203985 There was a related idea, where seawater is sprayed into the top of a tower to cool dry air by evaporation. This induces a downdraft. The advantage is this scheme would be that no large greenhouse is required. It would only work in arid regions near oceans, however. There was a related idea, where seawater is sprayed into the top of a tower to cool dry air by evaporation. This induces a downdraft. The advantage is this scheme would be that no large greenhouse is required. It would only work in arid regions near oceans, however.

]]> By: chemman http://inhabitat.com/enviromission-plans-massive-solar-updraft-towers-for-arizona/comment-page-1/#comment-203979 chemman Thu, 07 Jan 2010 21:57:22 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=78846#comment-203979 Building more power plants in Arizona to provide Southern California with electricity. In this case I think NIMBY is just fine. If they don't want to build solar plants in their deserts why should we do it for them. If we refuse to ship them electricity maybe they will join the real world and begin taking care of their own needs. Building more power plants in Arizona to provide Southern California with electricity. In this case I think NIMBY is just fine. If they don’t want to build solar plants in their deserts why should we do it for them. If we refuse to ship them electricity maybe they will join the real world and begin taking care of their own needs.

]]> By: beebob http://inhabitat.com/enviromission-plans-massive-solar-updraft-towers-for-arizona/comment-page-1/#comment-203957 beebob Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:37:00 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=78846#comment-203957 Since about 1/3rd of the planet is desert more plans will emerge like the DII to look to the economic future as tied to sunnier areas. Ask, like Henry George, where the land is free. See the emerging undersea grid activities and techniques to make sand into structures. This is quite a NEW way to put ones' head in the sand! http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jan/03/european-unites-renewable-energy-supergrided North Sea countries plan vast clean energy project • €30bn scheme could offer weather-proof supply "...A North Sea grid could link into grids proposed for a much larger German-led plan for renewables called the Desertec Industrial Initiative (DII). This aims to provide 15% of Europe's electricity by 2050 or earlier..." Magnus Larsson: Turning dunes into architecture http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXMJobWlXks Since about 1/3rd of the planet is desert more plans will emerge like the DII to
look to the economic future as tied to sunnier areas. Ask, like Henry George, where
the land is free. See the emerging undersea grid activities and techniques to
make sand into structures. This is quite a NEW way to put ones’ head in the sand!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jan/03/european-unites-renewable-energy-supergrided

North Sea countries plan vast clean energy project
• €30bn scheme could offer weather-proof supply

“…A North Sea grid could link into grids proposed for a much larger
German-led plan for renewables called the Desertec Industrial Initiative (DII).
This aims to provide 15% of Europe’s electricity by 2050 or earlier…”

Magnus Larsson: Turning dunes into architecture
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXMJobWlXks

]]> By: Bill Johnson http://inhabitat.com/enviromission-plans-massive-solar-updraft-towers-for-arizona/comment-page-1/#comment-203950 Bill Johnson Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:03:14 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=78846#comment-203950 I got 10 bux says never will even one be built. I got 10 bux says never will even one be built.

]]> By: astonerii http://inhabitat.com/enviromission-plans-massive-solar-updraft-towers-for-arizona/comment-page-1/#comment-203946 astonerii Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:57:21 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=78846#comment-203946 Urban heat islands and our over use of land is not significant enough yet, what we REALLY NEED are huge zones of pure black covering our landscapes. Urban heat islands and our over use of land is not significant enough yet, what we REALLY NEED are huge zones of pure black covering our landscapes.

]]> By: CodeSculptor http://inhabitat.com/enviromission-plans-massive-solar-updraft-towers-for-arizona/comment-page-1/#comment-203931 CodeSculptor Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:26:56 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=78846#comment-203931 Well, the upside to the generator is that it seems to use no resources other than land and facility. There's no fuel cost, no shipping. Sure, it's big, and we can make smaller generators, but those smaller generators are non-renewable Well, the upside to the generator is that it seems to use no resources other than land and facility. There’s no fuel cost, no shipping. Sure, it’s big, and we can make smaller generators, but those smaller generators are non-renewable

]]> By: Larry J http://inhabitat.com/enviromission-plans-massive-solar-updraft-towers-for-arizona/comment-page-1/#comment-203929 Larry J Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:18:33 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=78846#comment-203929 It'll be interesting to see how many environmental impact assessment hoops they'll have to jump through. I've already heard environmentalists complaining about building far smaller solar energy projects in the desert. Also, $750 million does seem rather high for 200 megawatts of generating capacity, especially considering it'll only work on sunny days. I think you could buy a lot more base power for the same investment. It’ll be interesting to see how many environmental impact assessment hoops they’ll have to jump through. I’ve already heard environmentalists complaining about building far smaller solar energy projects in the desert. Also, $750 million does seem rather high for 200 megawatts of generating capacity, especially considering it’ll only work on sunny days. I think you could buy a lot more base power for the same investment.

]]> By: Mikey http://inhabitat.com/enviromission-plans-massive-solar-updraft-towers-for-arizona/comment-page-1/#comment-203918 Mikey Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:20:25 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=78846#comment-203918 Isn't $750 million expensive for 200 megawatts of generating capacity? Isn’t $750 million expensive for 200 megawatts of generating capacity?

]]> By: nonpchomer http://inhabitat.com/enviromission-plans-massive-solar-updraft-towers-for-arizona/comment-page-1/#comment-203917 nonpchomer Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:02:12 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=78846#comment-203917 Uh Huh, boy if there was ever a pie in the sky idea designed to seperate the gullible public from their tax dollars this is it. Your gonna cover how many acres with a "greenhouse"? Ever cover a piece of grass with some clear plastic. The grass dies. Do you honestly think this will ever produce enough energy to cover it's own cost? Uh Huh, boy if there was ever a pie in the sky idea designed to seperate the gullible public from their tax dollars this is it.
Your gonna cover how many acres with a “greenhouse”? Ever cover a piece of grass with some clear plastic. The grass dies.
Do you honestly think this will ever produce enough energy to cover it’s own cost?

]]> By: Bruce222 http://inhabitat.com/enviromission-plans-massive-solar-updraft-towers-for-arizona/comment-page-1/#comment-203916 Bruce222 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:57:34 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=78846#comment-203916 How many 1600MW reactors can you build in 4 square miles? How many 1600MW reactors can you build in 4 square miles?

]]> By: bugmenot http://inhabitat.com/enviromission-plans-massive-solar-updraft-towers-for-arizona/comment-page-1/#comment-203914 bugmenot Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:54:28 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=78846#comment-203914 Can the space under the greenhouse be used for growing anything? i.e. like a 'regular' greenhouse? Can the space under the greenhouse be used for growing anything? i.e. like a ‘regular’ greenhouse?

]]> By: DeserLeap http://inhabitat.com/enviromission-plans-massive-solar-updraft-towers-for-arizona/comment-page-1/#comment-203908 DeserLeap Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:20:09 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=78846#comment-203908 Since there are 640 acres in a square mile and the greenhouse is 4 square miles, this project should cover thousands, not hundreds, of acres. Also, it looks like the project will cost about $4 a watt, which is about what PV systems cost. Sounds a bit expensive. Since there are 640 acres in a square mile and the greenhouse is 4 square miles, this project should cover thousands, not hundreds, of acres.

Also, it looks like the project will cost about $4 a watt, which is about what PV systems cost. Sounds a bit expensive.

]]> By: Les Nessman http://inhabitat.com/enviromission-plans-massive-solar-updraft-towers-for-arizona/comment-page-1/#comment-203906 Les Nessman Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:10:29 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=78846#comment-203906 Do we really want to litter the landscape with such ugly looking monstrosities? Do we really want to litter the landscape with such ugly looking monstrosities?

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