Power from high-altitude wind answer to polluting plants,says research

The researchers claim that the technology has a potential to improve the existing socioeconomic setup,which could largely benefit future generations. If it comes to a practical shape,they say,it will prove to be far better than the polluting grave fossils and nuclear power technologies.

The research says a 20-kilometre free-standing inflatable space tower has the potential to harvest renewable energy sources,such as ‘wind energy’ and ‘atmospheric electricity’. A comprehensively designed pneumatic tower can generate up to 20 GW (giga watt) of continuous power. The research work was published in the Journal of British Interplanetary Society,London,in May this year. The research indicates that at high altitudes,seven to 15 km above the earth’s surface,the wind power is available all the time,which can be harvested by installing wind turbines.

Talking to The Indian Express from Toronto,Raj Seth said: “Wind turbines can be installed on a 15-km high pneumatic space tower structure. The total weight of turbines would be approximately 1,00,000 tonnes. However,appropriately designed pneumatic space tower can withstand a load up to 270,000 tonnes.”

The research also mentions the tower’s capabilities. “A 20-km high space tower can generate an estimated electrical power more than 1 GW without utilising any moving machinery parts,” said Raj,adding that power being generated through solar technologies was costly and less efficient,as solar power was not available all the time in comparison to high-altitude wind energy and atmospheric electricity.

He said about 1,000 such towers,globally,could replace the existing fossils and nuclear fuel power plants that were not eco-friendly. The estimated cost of construction of a space tower comprising turbines will be Canadian$10 billion. India’s total demand at present is 200 GW and can be met by 10 such towers only,costing about $100 billion dollars. Accordingly,Punjab will need only one such tower. Raj said the space tower technology was highly cost effective and the consumer electricity bill could be reduced by more than 50 per cent.

“At the moment,our research at York University is collaborated with Thoth Technology Inc,Canada,and we are looking for potential business partners to build the space tower,” he said.