Solar downdraft tower generate electricity on the fascinating principle of cooling air at 1.3 Kilometers high creating a strong downdraft to drive turbines
Klaus Lackner at Columbia proposed such a system for ambient carbon capture. The proposed tower use salt water to cool warm, dry air, causing it to fall. This convection current driving turbines, capturing 45% of the thermal potential energy and more than recovers the pumping energy. Israeli researchers estimate that a large plant around 1.3 Km high could generate enough electricity at prices equivalent to hydropower. A 3000 foot project is planned for Arizona. See article on Treehugger
Here is a Youtube video describing the concept
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This is different than the solar updraft towers which heat air causing it to rise examined by Australia-based Enviromission.
Cost for various plant configurations grabbed from Youtube frame shot (Old numbers that appear not to be inflation-adjusted)
Hello,
I am a climate change policy student in the Natural Resources and Environmental Studies program examining replacing fossil fuels used for peak load district heating. I like problem solving and climate change is big problem that opens up many opportunities as well as challenges. Eventually, I want to have a career in climate policy, so this is a place where I share nifty ideas and hopefully actions which lead to creating a better world.
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