How a giant solar tower could power the future

More promising technology waiting for investment.
It may take a massive disaster for the world to gain the sense of urgency necessary to save ourselves.

Is 200,000 homes enough? I think congressmen will see the cost and hear the lobbying from fossil fuel energy companies and vote against this.

Developed TWENTY years ago! Why have we not paid attention until now?

Excellent. Good question iOw!

Because Oil was 14 dollars a barrel for so long. Now that we actually have to pay alot for energy people are starting to freak.

Interesting concept... although I must say that we need to find a way to let these power more than 200 000 homes each.

I'm all for new concepts, but we already have proven ways to power homes with no emissions.

That thing looks AWESOME though.

I have heard somewhere that now with nano technology, we are able to make smaller, more efficiant solar panels. So those 200,000 homes can be greatly increased by that!

Though giant solar towers like this would be nice for powering a nearby city. I think each home should be self sustained, or have their "personal windmill". Cause if every house works for itself, we'll have enough energy for sure.

Looks like maybe we'll have all sorts of different alternative ideas now...now that fossil fuel is over the top...

Great idea...next question...what's the price tag..?

That is good but isn't good enogh.. this needs to be spread around the world..not to mention that this energy power source needs to be protected against natrual disasters, evil people, and anything else..energy is just as important as time that moves aronud you...

to think this has been kept from us for 20yrs. I would have loved to know about this sooner maybe people would'v reacted and we couldv had this climate craze alittle more under control.

Wow! This is amazing. These types of stories restore my faith in humanity, because it means that our race has the curiosity, intelligence and expertise to figure these types of technological innovations out.

Ok just a thought, and dont slate me for this i think its a great idea, but would enough of these to power say a couple of cities send out enough sun heated air to adversely affect global warning.

all hail the giant solar stick! i call dibs on the shade.

Gee, I was just hoping that the solar domestic water we are putting in the house would help.

Perhaps we could demo Al Gores house. He uses enough energy in a year to power 232 houses for a month. Much more than the geothermal in mine (or Bushs').

If we continue to depend on oil for a primary energy source I fear we are running in circles. We need this, nuclear, geothermal etc. I would like to see the federal tax credits extended past this year for solar etc.

It is wonderful to see stories about innovations like this. But withthe moratorium this government just placed on solar projects on public lands, I suppose this would have to be done privately now. So where are all of the visionaries with the capital? Let's go!

Amazing! Let's build more of these and share the technology to other countries.

I'd like to see a few working models up and running to see what kind of energy this thing really puts out. And what about the climate in the colder northeastern states? Will this thing still work in the winter when the air temp is below freezing?

Once again, America the late bloomers are slow to implementing new sources of energy and releasing their grip on fossil fuels. Spain has been at a tower in similarity for years now.

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/mar2007/2007-03-30-02.asp

Any technological energy effort is useless until the whole nations fight against the current usage of Energy sources.

See it for what it is... the biggest crisis the planet has ever faced.

The UN calculates as may as 11 billion people by the year 2050 and the "lights are coming on" faster than ever in China and Inda.

HUMANITY NEEDS SUSTANABLE ENERGY NOW

Why is it that we continue to allow utilities to tell us they're working on "clean coal" or "Safe nuclear" energy when truly clean and safe technology has been around since the 70s. GET MAD and SCREAM LOUDLY to your congressman, the Department of Energy, the EPA, and your state and local government. "WE WANT SOLAR!"

Wait, isn't heating the air a terrible idea?! what would be the long term effect of hundreds of these dotting the earth?

all i really have to say about this is finally...