The ability of this technology to regulate reactive power as well as act as a base load supplier means it is a standout amongst renewable forms of electricity generation.
How does it work?
A canopy of glass/Perspex panels is installed around a central tower. Heat from the sun increases the temperature of the air under the canopy. As the air increases in temperature, a natural air flow is induced. This air flow is controlled such that the point of least resistance is via the central tower. Located at the base of the tower are multiple wind electric turbines.
The You Tube Videos above have been linked to provide more detail
The height of the tower is critical in determining the efficiency of the tower. The greater the air temperature differential is between the base and the top of the tower, the greater the induced updraft.
What generation capacity is possible?
What generation capacity is possible?
Current feasibility of a 1km tall tower has generation capacity of 200MW.
Can this operate as a 24 hour base load power generator?
Yes.
One of the major breakthroughs of this technology has been the proposal to build a number of saline ponds which will heat up during the day. This saline water will then be pumped around the base of the tower during the night ensuring the temperature differential between the base of the tower and the top of the tower are at similar levels during the night. This will ensure a continuous flow of heated air during the night.
Has this technology been tested?
Yes.In Spain in 1981/82 a solar tower was designed and a prototype built by Schlaich Bergermann engineering. The original design was for the tower to last for about 3 years. It stayed functional for 9 years. Further research has indicated that this type of structure, with minimum maintenance could be capable of a life cycle of 60 years.
Enviromission from Australia (EVM) and listed on the US stock exchange (EVOMY) has completed pre-feasibility design on a 1km tower. They own the Intellectual Property (patent) and a suitable property at Tapio Station near Mildura, Australia.
The Tapio property is so situated that it is flat expanse exposed to large levels of sunlight and has a High Voltage transmission substation located on it (which supplies Broken Hill) thereby eliminating the need for massive transmission infrastructure to be built. The area North of Mildura, where this station is located, is essentially uninhabited, flat, semi-arid. Perfect for additional towers to be built. The land available is large enough to build towers to replace all of Australia’s fossil fuelled power stations. Mildura, one of the major food producing areas in Australia, has been suffering tremendously from drought. A project of this scope would find a ready and willing workforce due to the decrease in demand for labour in the farming and agricultural sectors.
The property is also well positioned from a materials point of view in that iron ore/steel from Broken Hill is not far from Mildura, the area also has a number of sand/silica mines essential for the manufacture of glass panels. Solar Systems Australia, the only truly green energy producer beneficiary of the Australian governments Low Emissions Technology Development Fund (LETDF), has also selected Mildura as a base for their first solar power station of 150MW. In future this area North of Mildura could potentially become a hub for the development of large scale solar technologies.
Financial capital cost?
For a 200MW station with a 1km tower is estimated at $1,040 Million USD. The material cost is in line with the building of a similar coal, gas or nuclear power station and is thereby negligible when compared against alternate options. This $1,040 Million will include the establishment of a manufacturing industry to supply the first tower. Glass plant, steel mill, engineering work shop etc. Subsequent improvements in technology and the reduction in initial capital and engineering costs should see a subsequent tower costs reduce to around $400-$600 million dependent on labour costs.
Estimated return?
Based on current retail rates generation of electricity over the 60 year life this technology is expected to return 20.34% p.a. for 60 years.
Flat, hot, essentially uninhabited wasteland. The US, Australia, China and India all have large areas where similar conditions exist to those at Mildura. Due to the large quantities of glass panels and steel supporting framework, along with the materials to build the tower, a manufacturing base will need to be established with a ready supply of raw materials. Again, there are areas in each of these countries which meet this criteria.
The erection of the solar panel array will require a lower level of construction expertise than is required on similar installations so in developing areas the local population could become involved in this.
What challenges need to be met?
The tower itself will be the major challenge due to its proposed height of 1km. However, similar height structures are now being built around the world in Dubai, Taiwan and China. The engineering and construction knowledge is available now.
C02 emissions?
Once the plant is built there will be no need for the ongoing depletion of natural resources. The net advantage of the plant will be equivalent to reducing green house emissions by 1,752,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. To put this into perspective this is equivalent to taking 640,000 cars off the road, or supplying 284,000 of Australian households with completely green power.
Additional proposals and benefits
An observation from the initial tower built in Spain "...they got instead quite luxuriant plant growth underneath because of the green house effect. Which produced large quantities of condensation overnight."
This means the tower proposal could have multiple uses.
- Generation of Electricity. No fuel input, no waste, no water use.
- Sited in desert, unpopulated areas as opposed to coastal or near waterways which is the case for coal or nuclear power plants. Risk to general health from radiation, contaminated groundwater or air pollution are eliminated.
- With the array area over 5km2, the greenhouse could re-habilitate the land underneath making it suitable for agricultural purposes.
- Perfect proposal for developing countries, particularly those in the African continent.
Direct Investment
Directly invest in EVM listed in Australia, or EVOMY on the US exchange.
