Difference between revisions of "Energy/SUT"

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Latest revision as of 13:37, 12 June 2013

The solar updraft tower is a renewable-energy power plant for generating electricity from solar power. Sunshine falling on a greenhouse-like collector structure around the base of a tall chimney heats the air within it. The resulting convection causes air to rise up the tower by the chimney effect. This airflow drives wind turbines to produce electricity.

Contents

[edit] Advantages

  • Life span = 80 years. [1]
  • Low maintenance costs.
    • Cost for 40 years around 1 million USD [2]
  • Produces greenhouse areas that can be used for agriculture.
  • Produces energy at night (at a reduced rate) [3]
  • Produces energy when overcast [4]
  • May be able to desalinate water via condensation [5]

[edit] Disadvantages

  • Takes up a relatively large amount of space.[6]

[edit] Economic analysis

  • Cost per Watt of capacity = 4 EUR [7]
  • Cost per watt of capacity (200 MW): 4 EUR, (50 MW): 6,04 [8]
  • 50 MW (Spain, 1800) cost per Watt: 20 EUR[9]
  • 200 MW (Spain, 1800) cost per Watt: 12 EUR[10]

[edit] Land use

The collector diameter is around 750 m = 400,000 m^2 = 100 acre (60 soccer pitches)[11]

Considering land prices as follows, the solar updraft tower will cost 100,000 - 1,000,000 USD for land only.

  • US = 1,000 - 10,000 USD per acre
  • Argentina < 8,000 USD per acre [12]

[edit] References

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