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
.
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)
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