Solar-powered balloons could generate electricity
Tue Jan 27 2009 10:52 pm
by Bob Morris.
Ok, this is definitely a new idea.
[Use] solar energy to fill a balloon with hot air. The rising balloon pulls a tether, which turns a generator on the ground. Once the balloon has floated up to 3 kilometers, air is released and it loses buoyancy. The balloon needs less energy to be pulled down and a net power gain is reached as a result.
The developer estimates a balloon 88 meters in diameter could power 100 homes.
Posted in: Solar power.
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88 meters? Yikes, that’s almost the length of a football field in diameter, and more than that in height. Think of the shadow that’d cast on the land below!
“Tut tut, looks like rain…”
And they shouldn’t be used for target practice either…
I think it is great, you can relocate them to where it is needed…