inhabitat.com — Wind turbines at ground level produce at a rate of 20-25%, but when placed at altitudes from 600-1000 feet, energy output can double. Ottawa-based firm is in the prototype stages of the world?s first floating wind turbine. The Magenn Air Rotor System is a stationary blimp kept afloat with helium and tethered into place on an electrical grid.
Jun 4, 2008 View in Crawl 4
huskypuzzleJun 4, 2008
This is so cool, but I want to see one work in real life..how close could they really be to making this happen..and would it be cost effective?
chr1syrJun 4, 2008
Yeah, i just made the same point before seeing that you already commented. It looks flawed or needs a tail fin or a fixed base
puirtabeulJun 4, 2008
While what you suggest isn't a bad thing, it isn't nearly enough to have more impact than a raindrop hitting the south Pacific. What we really ought to be grasping at are entirely different ways of living, and ideas like this are a good start. I rather like this concept, though I wonder how much of that is because it appeals to my steampunk sensibilities...
thestrongropeJun 4, 2008
Nope. Just not thinking straight. Thanks for the clarification though.
Closed AccountJun 5, 2008
Very cool concept. I like the idea of linking many of these together in a matrix for even more power. What I feel is missing is photovoltaics. If the bulk of the surface of such a device could somehow be coated with solar-generating powercells - perhaps the material itself - even more electricity could be generated. I see the same problem with wind turbines. That technology ought to be paired with solar on the very same device. Even if there is no wind, there is sunlight; if no sunlight, perhaps there is wind. Just a thought but, these technologies belong together to take advantage of multiple possible energy sources within the same unavoidably occupied space. Imagine a nuclear power plant paired with wind turbines, the above device and solar arrays all on the very same acreage. THAT would be a power plant. THAT would be smart design.
trevorhJun 5, 2008
Ramble you under estimate the resourcefulness of advertisers they will find a way even if it means tethering a thousand together to make a giant logo in the sky above a city.
rickaJun 5, 2008
I think it is normal. You don't need to fill it constantly, just once and once in a while maintain the level. You controll it by using "balonettes" inside. Theoretically, one may have it filled even with hydrogen, as it was safe for a long time with German Zeppelins. Even Brandenburg which was the most famous for the blast photos, safely flew over the Atlantic, not counting decades of quite safe lighter-than-air navigation on hydrogen. Again, especially when the machine is hooked on a wire, the discharge would just go down the cable and maybe even benefit harvesting of power...
Closed AccountJun 5, 2008
I like how digg f**kers like you bury people for stating facts AND/OR an opinion... like yours is the only right one. I wasn't being cynical and I'm certainly not a tree hugger.